Army troops clash with NPA rebels in South RP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 5, 2010) – Communist insurgents clashed Friday with government soldiers in Compostela Valley province in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Army Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, said soldiers fought about 50 New People’s Army rebels for two hours in the village of Salvacion in Monkayo town.

He said the clash occurred just as a leftist solon Satur Ocampo visited the Davao region. He said troops also clashed last month in Davao Oriental where Ocampo visited and led anti-government rallies.

“Reports reaching the Army headquarters here indicate two hours of heavy fighting which resulted to the death of one soldier and wounding of two others which prompted authorities to send reinforcements,” Garcia said.

The slain soldier was identified as Private First Class Benzon Balandan and the wounded as Private First Class John Patrick Madariaga and Private First Class Jaypee Baricaua.

Garcia said a still undetermined number of rebels were either killed or wounded.

“The report said the NPAs suffered severe casualties but were able to extricate their wounded comrades,” he said, adding troops overran two rebel encampments and recovered six improvised explosives, blasting caps and detonating cords.

He described the camps as fortified and can accommodate at least 70 people.
Major General Carlos Holganza, the regional army chief, ordered troops to pursue the rebels as he expressed grief over the death of his soldier, but said the sacrifice of the troops have made the people a lot safer from terrorism.

“Our soldiers’ sacrifices were not in vain as their efforts have made the people of Compostela Valley and the whole of Davao region a lot safer with the recovery of these improvised explosive devices which might endanger the lives of our citizens.” Holganza said.

He also said the latest clash occurred as militant organizations led by Ocampo, a former high ranking member of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines is in the region orchestrating anti government protests in Davao City, Compostela Valley and Davao del Sur provinces.

Holganza did not say whether Ocampo’s visit had anything to do with the fighting or if the solon ordered rebels to attack government forces. The military also tagged other leftist solons and members of militant groups either as rebels or NPA sympathizers.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is fighting for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

No to Charter Change in Zamboanga City

Bayan Muna Party list Representative Satur Ocampo tinkers with his phone Saturday, July 18, 2009 during a break at a press conference in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines on the issue of Charter change together with Shirley Ann Casiano, of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines; Aurora Gonzales, of the People’s Movement Against Charter Change; and Roel Marcial, from the youth sector.

Ocampo’s group also participated in a forum that tackled proposals by President Gloria Arroyo's allies in Congress to change the Constitution that could prolong Arroyo's stay to power. Arroyo is to step down next year, but is said to be seeking a congressional seat in her hometown in Pampanga. And her allies are proposing a shift to parliamentary government where Arroyo could be elected as Prime Minister. Ocampo, an anti-Arroyo activist, urged the locals to resist the proposed change in the Charter. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Jung Francisco)

Groups Opposed To Charter Change Hold Forum In Cotabato City

About a thousand people attended a forum on anti-charter change at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City in Mindanao on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. (Photo by Michael Madamba)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 8, 2009) – Civil and progressive groups opposed to proposals to change the Constitution held a forum on Wednesday in Cotabato City in the southern Philippines.

About a thousand people trooped to the Notre Dame University where the forum was held to listen to resource persons discussed proposals by allies of President Gloria Arroyo to amend the Constitution.

The proposal could prolong the stay of Arroyo who is to step down next year when her term ends.

Representative Satur Ocampo, of Bayan Muna Party List, spoke about his group opposition to the passage of the House Resolution 1109 which would convene a Senate-less Constituent Assembly that would tackle the changes in the charter.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who is one of those campaigning to amend the Constitution, said the changes are needed to introduce economic and other important reforms.

Ocampo said:”It is a total sell-out of national patrimony and sovereignty if we shall let this to happen. It is the future of the next generation which is at stake.”

He stressed some critical points that people should consider to resist charter change and among them are proposed amendments to “obliterate” nationalist provision especially on economic restrictions which does not allow 100% foreign ownership on lands, mining, shipping and education, among others.

One of the forum’s organizers, Pastor Orlando Zambrano, of the United Methodist Church, also expressed his dismay of what he called “Arroyo’s minions in lower congress which is to prolong the term of the president.”

“Her allies primarily working out to change the present presidential to parliamentary form of government through charter change, which is the only way for her to escape lawsuits and prosecution of corruption and plunder charges. Another term in favor of Arroyo as a president of this country would mean another burden to Filipino people.” Zambrano said.

Zambrano, who founded the group called “People’s MARCH,” issued a unity statement that reads:

We, the people’s movement against charter change or people’s march, express our strong opposition to House Resolution 1109, which would convene the House of Representatives into a constituent assembly (Con-Ass), and any move to amend the constitution perpetrated by the politicians who currently hold power.

The Filipino people cannot entrust the future of this country in the hands of those who profess to be selfless leaders while instigating or deliberately acting as complicit in massive graft and corruption, human rights violations and the sellout of our sovereignty.

A switch to a parliamentary form of government is not the key to solving any of the problems the country is facing. The problem does not primarily lie in the form of government or in the constitution. It is in the kind of leaders running this country.

We condemn the incessant attempts of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her minions to press on with charter change despite the public’s disagreement. Their greed and lust for power are truly appalling.

We believe that charter change is nothing but a ruse to keep President Arroyo in power and to advance the interests of the elites, foreign capitalists and the unscrupulous politicians.

We also believe that President Arroyo, fearing for her and her family’s prosecution for their involvement in corruption charges, human rights violations and other crimes against the Filipino people, is exhausting all means to remain in power.

We vow to stir the minds of the people to the true agenda of charter change and its would-be consequence to the lives of Filipinos. We vow to mount pressure against charter change. We vow to resist the money, power and influence of those advancing cha-cha.

We will not allow a despot and her cohorts to continue to plunder our coffers, trample on the sanctity of human rights and give up our vital resources to foreigners.

We call on everyone to take a stand and join us in resisting cha-cha. Now is not the time for apathy. We cannot afford to be fence sitters when the good of the country and our fate as a nation are at stake. (With a report from Michael Dumanba)

House approves Anti-Torture Bill

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the Anti-Torture Bill that will serve as antidote to human rights.

Rep. Edcel Lagman (1st District, Albay), one of the authors of the bill, said the measure aims to ensure that the rights of all persons, including suspects, detainees and prisoners, shall be respected and followed at all times as also declared in the 1987 Constitution.

Rep. Satur Ocampo (Party list, Bayan Muna), one of the prime movers of the measure, said the bill may stop or deter torture or summary execution against suspected political dissenters or a plain criminal.

"It is high time to enact a measure that will address the act of torture which violates the rights of those who espouse political beliefs, ideology, religion or views," Ocampo said.

Rep. Matias Defensor (3rd District, Quezon City), chairman of the House committee on justice, said it is the declared policy of the government to value the dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human rights.

Defensor said House Bill No.5709 also known as the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, aims to sustain the Constitutional mandate that "the employment of physical, psychological or degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee or the use of substantial or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law."

Defensor said no person shall be placed under investigation or held in custody by any person in authority or agent of a person in authority shall be subjected to torture, physical harm, force, violence, threat or any act that impairs his or her free will.

Under the measure, torture among other definitions refers to an act by which severe pain or suffering whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him/her or a third person information or a confession.

Among other acts of torture as specified under the measure are: systematic beating, punching, kicking, striking with a rifle or truncheon, food deprivation, electric shock, cigarette burning, submersion of the head in the water polluted with excrement, urine or vomit, rape and sexual abuse, dental torture, pulling out of fingernails and other analogous acts of mental or psychological torture.

The bill imposes 40 years imprisonment on violators for torture resulting in death or mutilation, torture with rape, torture with other forms of sexual abuse resulting to the victim being insane, imbecile, impotent, blind or maimed for life and torture committed against children.

The bill further provides 20 years imprisonment to those who commit any act of mental or psychological torture resulting in insanity, complete or partial amnesia, fear of becoming insane or suicidal tendencies of the victim due to guilt, worthlessness or shame.

Violators shall also face 12 years imprisonment if the victim as a consequence of torture has lost the power of speech or the power to hear or to smell.

The other authors of the bill are Reps. Junie E. Cua (Lone District, Quirino), Lorenzo R. Tanada III (4th District, Quezon), Teodoro A. Casino (Bayan Muna), Liza L. Maza and Luzviminda C. Ilagan (Gabriela) and Minority Leader Ronaldo B. Zamora (Lone District, San Juan). (Isagani Yambot Jr.)

Filipino Solon Warns U.S. On Jolo Island Combat

U.S. troops in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 15 Aug) – A Filipino lawmaker on Wednesday warned the United States against participating in combat in the southern island of Jolo, where local troops are battling members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

Rep. Satur Ocampo said any U.S. participation in the conflict would violate the Philippines Constitution and further inflame the Abu Sayyaf group, blamed for the spate of bombings and kidnappings of foreigners and other rebel groups such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the communist New People’s Army.

“While the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Visiting Forces Agreement insofar as joint military exercises are concerned, it explicitly prohibits U.S. military forces from joining the Armed Forces of the Philippines in combat operations,” Ocampo said.

U.S. troops were frequently seen in the company of Filipino forces hunting down the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo island, about 950 kilometers south of Manila.

Hundreds of U.S. soldiers are stationed in Jolo island and Zamboanga City and other areas in Mindanao and helping Philippine military defeat terrorism.

Major Eugene Batara, a regional Philippine Army spokesman, denied that U.S. troops were involved in combat operation in Jolo island.

“They are prohibited from participating in direct combat operation. Filipino troops are fighting the terrorists,” he said in Zamboanga City.

Nathaniel Santiago, leader of the militant Bayan Muna group, said Manila should take a very critical posture on U.S. meddling in Jolo, especially in view of efforts of the U.S. Congress to compel the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

“The U.S. is caught in a quagmire it created in Iraq and we should not allow the Americans to make a repeat of such a disaster in Mindanao,” he said, citing U.S. media reports that the opposition-controlled House and Senate are pressing the Bush government to bare Iraq withdrawal plans due to continued military casualties and the questions on the alleged reasons for waging war.

More than 5,000 Filipino soldiers are in Jolo and pursuing Abu Sayyaf militants and insurgents from the Moro National Liberation protecting two Jemaah Islamiya bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek, tagged as behind two deadly blasts in the resort island of Bali in Indonesia in 2002.

Officials as many as 40 militants were killed, including a senior MNLF leader, in fierce clashes last week on the island last, but 26 soldiers also died from that fighting. (Mindanao Examiner)

DND Masama Ang Loob Sa Release Ni Satur Ocampo

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 03 Apr) – Naghihimutok si Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. kasunod ng desisyon ng Korte Suprema na payagang makapagpyansa kanina si Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo.

Gayunman ayon kay Ebdane, kahit masama ang loob, wala silang pagpipilian kundi ang sundin ang direktiba ng Kataas-taasang Hukuman.

"We are living in a democracy, while we are not happy with it. We have to abide by the law. When the Supreme Court grants [Ocampo] bail, then so be it," ani Ebdane.

Ngunit, hindi aniya ito nangangahulugan na hihina ang kampanya ng militar laban sa purging activities ng komunistang grupo.

Naniniwala rin si Ebdane na kung tutuusin, hindi ordinaryong krimen ang ginawa ni Ocampo para lang basta palayain.

"It's not an ordinary murder. It's actually tantamount to genocide and is not actually bailable… There were some defects in the filing, these will becorrected anyway," ayon sa kalihim.

Nababahala lamang si Ebdane na magawang makatakas palabas ng Pilipinas at magtago si Ocampo dahil sa pagpipyansa nito.

Kumpyansa naman si AFP Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro na matibay ang mga ebidensya ng militar at may mga testigo rin silang positibong magtuturo sa pagkakasangkot ni Ocampo ang mass murder.

Samantala, bagamat may hinanakit rin ang mga pamilya at kaanak ng mga biktima ng purging activities, umaasa ang mga ito na mapapanagot ang kongresista.

Lumutang ang may 24 pamilya ng mga biktima ng mass killings at iniaapela sa Korte Suprema ang paglilipat sa Leyte ni Ocampo upang makaharap sila at mapatunayan ang kinalaman nito sa mga krimen.

Buo ang paniniwala ng mga ito at may ebidensya na kabilang si Ocampo sa nag-utos bilang lider ng komunistang samahan sa pagpatay ng kanilang kamag-anak matapos na pagdudahang espiya ng gobyerno.

"Wala talagang magagawa, desisyon ng Korte. Maghihintay na lang kami kapag iniharap na ang taong yun," ayon kay Leonardo Tanaig, dating miyembro ng NPA.

Handa naman sila na humarap sa Supreme Court kung iaatas upang maihayag ang kanilang panig sa usapin. (Juley Reyes)

More Protest Rallies, Militant Group Vows

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 23 Mar) – A militant party list group on Friday vowed to hold a series of street protests to force the Philippine government to free two detained lawmakers allied with the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines.

The group Bayan Muna said it would intensify the protests across the country against government persecution of Reps. Satur Ocampo and Crispin Beltran. Both politicians have been accused of rebellion and murders.

Members of the group on Friday held a rally in Davao City and had also protested the unabated political killings and harassments of activists opposed to Arroyo’s rule.

It said hundreds of militants and political activists had been summarily executed in the Philippines since Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001.

Militant party list groups accused the military as behind most of the killings, a charged strongly denied by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Beltran, of the party list group Anakpawis, is under medical care because of his deteriorating health condition, while Ocampo, of Bayan Muna, is fighting a government move to transfer him to Leyte province where he was charged of murdering dozens of rebels suspected of aiding the military almost two decades ago.

"After all the expedite moves to hold the arrest warrant on Satur Ocampo, have him arrested, and attempts to transfer him to Leyte, the respondents are now delaying the oral arguments set by the Supreme Court," Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court reset the hearing on the petition filed by Ocampo to recall the arrest warrant issued against him by Leyte Judge Ephrem Abando on charges of multiple murder. The oral argument, originally set today, was moved to March 30. (With a report from Romy Bwaga)

Hitman Ng Ex-NPA, Kinasuhan; Satur Ililipad Na Muli Sa Leyte

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 22 Mar) – Ipinagharap na ng pulisya ng kasong murder ang isang suspek sa pagpapatumba sa dating rebelde sa Bataan.

Natukoy ang suspek na si Juanito Carabeo alyas Toktok na sinampahan ng kaso sa Bataan Provincial Prosecutor's Office kasunod ng pagpaslang kay Felisa Timog Ocampo, local coordinator ng Bayan Muna at rebel returnee, noong Marso 2 ng kasalukuyang taon.

Si Carabeo ay aktibong miyembro ng NPA unit na nag-o-operate sa Morong, Bataan.

Naniniwala ang pulisya na ang pagbabalik-loob ni Ocampo ang dahilan ng paglikida rito ng mga dating kapwa komunista.

Protektado na ng pulisya ang isang key witness sa nasabing pagpaslang.

Samantala, tuluyan nang dadalhin at mananatili sa Leyte si Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo na ihahatid sa Sabado.

Nilinaw ngayon ni Philippine National Police Chief Director General Oscar Calderon na hindi totoong haharangan ng pulisya si Ocampo na makadalo sa oral arguments ng kanyang petition for certiorari sa Korte Suprema bukas.

Sa sandaling matapos na aniya ang oral argument ay ililipad na ito sa Leyte maliban na lamang kung may direktiba ang hukuman na pipigil sa nasabing hakbang.

Magugunitang inihatid si Ocampo sa Leyte subalit agad ring ibinalik ng Maynila.

"On Saturday, Satur Ocampo will be brought to Leyte, after his oral argument" unless the courts issue another order preventing the solon's transfer," ani Calderon.

Nauna nang naaresto si Ocampo noong nakaraang Biyernes bunsod ng warrant of arrest na ipinalabas ng Hilongos court dahil sa kasong 15 counts ng murder sa pakikisangkot umano sa purging activities ng komunistang grupo sa Leyte. (Juley Reyes)

AFP May Star Witness vs Satur Ocampo

QUEZON CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 20 Mar) – Hawak ngayon ng Armed Forces ang isa umanong testigo na magpapatunay na nasa lalawigan ng Leyte si Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo noong mga panahong isinakatuparan ang summary executions o communist purging sa halos 100 impormante ng militar at miyembro ng komunistang grupo.

Nabatid kanina kay Armed Forces Public Information Office Chief Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro, ang nasabing testigo ay positibong maglalahad na pakalat-kalat lamang si Ocampo at wala sa kulungan nang mangyari ang purging activities ng Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-NPA).

Una nang iginigiit ni Ocampo na imposible itong madawit sa mga insidente ng pagpaslang dahil nakakulong.

"One witness also stated that he saw Rep. Satur Ocampo in Leyte in 1985," ani Bacarro sa Mindanao Examiner.

Sinabi ni Bacarro na nakatakas si Ocampo sa kanyang security escort habang bumuboto sa National Press Club sa Maynila noong 1985 at saka muling naaresto noong 1986 dahil sa kasong kidnapping at pagpatay noong 1987.

"So it was within the period from 1985, when he escaped, until such time that he was arrested in 1987, he was free to go around. It was also during that period that the mass murder in Inopacan, Leyte started," dagdag nito.

Gayunman, tumangggi si Bacarro na iditalye ng buo ang pagkakakilanlan ng testigo ngunit sapat na umano ang kredibilidad nito para idiin ang mambabatas.

Ipinunto pa ng opisyal na noong mga panahong nagtatago si Ocampo ay may pagkakataong nagawa nitong makisangkot sa pag-uutos ng purging activities sa mga komunista.

"Based on our reading, he had something to do with giving orders, giving orders to members of the NPA to conduct this mass murder," ayon kay Bacarro.

2 BIKTIMA NG EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS, NABUHAY!

Inilutang rin kanina ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang dalawa pang sinasabing biktima ng extrajudicial killings batay sa listahan ng grupong Karapatan.

Sina Danilo Fajardo y Flores, 43 anyos, isang CAFGU member ng Barangay Tibagan, at Hilario "Larry" Faraon, isang magsasaka sa Barangay Buliraan, pawang mga taga-San Miguel, Bulacan, ay nagsumite ng sinumpaang salaysay upang pasinungalingan ang pag-aangkin ng Karapatan na sila ay patay at kondenahin ang paghahanay sa kanilang bilang biktima ng summary execution.

Ika-650 at 652, sina Fajardo at Paraon sa listahan ng may 836 umano'y biktima ng political killings na isinumite ng Karapatan.

Ayon kay PNP Task Force USIG commander, Chief Superintendent Geary L Barias, na ang paglutang nina Fajardo at Paraon ay nagbunsod ngayon ng limang pangalan na maling inihanay ng Karapatan sa listahan nito.

"In the case of the five names erroneously listed by Karapatan, it is a very remote possibility that they are just namesakes because the addresses and other descriptions were specifically indicated," ani Barias.

Sa opisyal na listahan ng Task Force Usig, 115 ang beripikadong mga biktima ng political killings.

"Nonetheless, we are giving due attention to all the cases reported to us for investigation regardless of the motive and persons involved," dagdag ng opisyal.

KINONDENA

Isang nationwide condemnation rally naman ang isasagawa ng Bayan Muna at mga kaalyado nito ngayon Miyerkoles dahil sa umano’y patuloy na panggigipit ng pamahalaan sa mga party list groups na bumabatikos sa Pangulong Arroyo.

“We are going to bring this battle in the streets and we shall start counting from this day on Gloria Arroyo’s very near downfall. We have the truth and the Filipino people on our side and they shall make justice possible for Satur Ocampo and the thousand victims of Gloria Arroyo’s fascism.”

“The Arroyo regime is mistaken in believing that their noxious plans will cripple us. All the more that we gain our credibility and strength each time that they attack us," Virador added. ani Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador sa ipinadalang statement sa pahayagang Mindanao Examiner.

Sinurado rin ng Bayan Muna na magsasampa ito ng kaso sa ginawang paglabag ng karapatan ni Ocampo at sa mga alegasyon ng pamahalaan.

"The charges that the militaries have filed against ‘Ka Satur’ will boomerang to them. We have witnesses that will testify against the militaries who have planted the said mass grave of the murdered NPA elements," wika pa ni Virador. (Ulat nina Juley Reyes sa Maynila, Romy Bwaga at Mark Navales sa Mindanao)

Satur Ocampo, Madidiin Na Naman!

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 19 Mar) – May tinutunton ang militar na isa pang mass grave na pinagbaunan ng umano'y mga nabiktima ng purging activities o summary executions ng Communist Party of the Philippines- New People's Army (CPP-NPA) sa lalawigan ng Leyte.

Hindi rin malayong madagdagan ang kinakaharap na 15 counts ng kasong murder ni Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo kung may mga lulutang pang panibagong mga testigo hinggil sa mga pagpaslang ng komunista sa kapwa-rebelde.

Ipinahayag kanina ni Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro, na iniimbestigahan ng militar ang matibay na kaugnayan ni Ocampo sa ikalawang mass grave.

"We are verifying a second grave site. We will dig it up just in case we find it," ani Bacarro.

Naniniwala pa si Bacarro na may posibilidad na marami pang mass grave ang mahuhukay sa Leyte bilang bahagi ng Oplan VD ng CPP-NPA noong 1980's.

Base sa mga naunang testimonya ng rebel returnees, si Ocampo, bilang miyembro ng CPP Central Committee, nilagdaan nito ang kautusan para sa purging ng mga pinagdududahang espiya sa kanilang hanay.

Samantala, binara ni Bacarro ang pag-aangkin ni Ocampo na recycled lamang ang mga bungo't kalansay na nahukay sa Inopacan, Leyte.

Binigyang-diin ni AFP Bacarro na naghahanap ng palusot si Ocampo upang makaligtas sa kinasasangkutang mga kasong pagpatay bunsod ng summary executions sa kapwa mga rebelde.

Iginiit ni Bacarro na may mga testigo ang militar kabilang ang mga dating rebelde na magpapatunay ng kinalaman nito sa mga pagpaslang.

"This is a legitimate mass grave. I would like to highlight the fact that during the excavation, police from the SOCO [scene of the crime operatives] were present," dagdag ni Bacarro.

Hinamon ni Major General Rodrigo Maclang, na nanguna sa paghuhukay noong ito pa ang kumander ng Army's 8th Infantry Division, si Ocampo na magpakatotoo at harapin ang kasalanan.

"Magpakatotoo ka Satur, harapin mo ang kasalanan mo. Pati ang mga kamag-anak ng biktima ng kahayupan ng NPA," ani Maclang.

Masuwerte naman at hindi natuloy sa Leyte si Ocampo dahil ibinalik ng pulisya ang eroplanong magdadala sana sa mambabatas sa lalawigan upang doon ikulong at iharap sa kasong isinampa ng pamahalaan.

Binuhat pa ng ng mga parak si Ocampo upang maisakay lamang sa van na nagdala sa kanya sa airport. Nagmatigas si Ocampo, ngunit nanaig rin ang mga escort nitong bitbitin patungong airport.

Umabot lamang sa mahigit 2 oras si Ocampo sa ere at ibinalik na agad ang jet nito sa Maynila dahil sa isang court order na inihain ng kanyang mga abogado upang pigilin ang pagdadala sa kanya sa Leyte. Itinanggi naman ni Ocampo ang lahat ng akusasyon laban sa kanya. (Juley Reyes)

AFP Walang Pakialam Kay Satur!

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 15 Mar) – Hindi makikisawsaw ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa inilunsad na pagtutugis kay Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo na nahaharap sa mga kasong pagpatay dahil sa umano'y purging activities ng komunistang grupo sa Leyte.

Katwiran ni AFP National Capital Region Command Chief Major General Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, trabaho ng Philippine National Police ang paghahanap sa wanted na kongresista.

Makikialam lamang aniya ang militar kung hihingin ng pulisya ang ayuda nito upang agaran nang madakip ang nagtatagong mambabatas. Gayunman, sinabi kanina ni Dolorfino na kung may mga impormasyon ang AFP hinggil sa pinagtataguan o pinagkakanlungan ni Ocampo ay makikipag-ugnayan naman sila sa PNP.

Si Ocampo, gayundin si Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison at 52 iba pang komunista ay idinidiin sa 15 kasong pagpaslang kasunod ng summary execution sa mga rebelde mula 1984 hanggang 1991 sa Hilongos, Leyte.

Itinanggi na ng kongresista ang naturang akusasyon sa katwirang nakakulong umano ito nang mangyari ang insidente. "I was in the maximum security detention center of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Fort Bonifacio from 1977 onwards. I was in solitary confinement up to 1985."

"I was never in any position from 1984 to 1986 or at any other time to sign any kind of order to kill people in Leyte or anywhere else in the Philippines," ani Ocampo. (Juley Reyes)

Arrest Of Wanted Solon May Spark Unrest, Says Militant Group

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 09 Mar) — The militant party list group Anakpawis on Friday warns of a tsunami of people’s wrath which will prove disastrous to Arroyo administration bets for the May elections should the government pursue arrest of Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo.

The group believes that the arrest warrant against Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo was the result of Malacañang bid to get rid of progressive party list groups.

Danilo Ramos, national council member of Anakpawis, said the administration ticket will surely suffer the from the anger of the people who have been offended by the continued crackdown of the government against progressive partylist groups like Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, Suara, and Kabataan.

“The people will show their anger in a manner that it will create a disaster among the candidates now being fielded by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The government should be ready for this as it continues to trample and run after legitimate groups that are critical on its policies,” Ramos said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

“The arrest warrant against Satur (Ocampo) only exposes the desperation of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government to stop its critics from winning in the elections,” he said.

He said that based on recent developments, a worse scenario would be for Ocampo to be arrested and second, for the government to relentlessly wage its own fight against progressive groups and move for their disqualification. If Ocampo will be arrested, then the thousands of people who believe in the fight being waged by the militant solon will certainly be offended and most likely will be vindictive, Ramos said.

“Ms Arroyo is jittery now as it is now facing a difficulty in funding the candidacy of their candidates…it might even suffer the fate of the Bush administration,” he said. Disqualification, however, he said is less likely as they expect for the Commission on Elections to dismiss the case filed against Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and Anakpawis as it did in January when it dismissed a disqualification case filed against Bayan Muna for lack of merit.

Ramos said the filing of the disqualification case was apparently the handiwork of the government.

“It is a scheme of the government to stop all of us. And the looming arrest of Satur is already a part of the grand design. The military has long been deployed in the slum areas of Metro Manila and other key cities of the country and in rural areas and the soldiers are hunting down leaders of militant organization considered by the government as enemies,” Ramos said.

A recent survey released this week by the Social Weather Station showed that Filipinos will likely to vote Bayan Muna over other party list groups with 17 percent followed by Anakpawis with 9.4 percent and Gabriela with 8.1 percent.

Ocampo said he will face the charges and that his lawyers are working on it.

Police have mounted a massive manhunt against Ocampo. "Don't tire yourselves, I will come out and present my self. I have never, not even once, backed out of this kind of fight," he said.

Authorities filed criminal charges against Ocampo over the summary execution of many New People's Army rebels suspected as government spies in central Philippines more than two decades ago.

The rebels, suspected of aiding the military in the operation against the NPA, were killed during a purge allegedly ordered by Ocampo and Jose Maria Sison, chief of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Ocampo, linked by the military and police to the CPP and its armed wing the NPA, has gone into hiding after a court in Leyte province ordered his arrest.

Ocampo condemned as a clear miscarriage of justice the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him in connection with purported communist purge.

"I am innocent of these invented charges. My right to due process was violated by the prosecutor and the judge who ignored seven solid bases for trashing the case. I will avail myself of legal remedies to correct this injustice against me,"Ocampo said.

Ocampo, who had been arrested in the past on rebellion charges, said he was in military custody from 1976 to 1985 and had nothing to do with the crimes. (Mindanao Examiner)

Bomba, Bala; Posters, Kalendaryo Ng Bayan Nasamsam Sa Lugar Ng NPA

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 05 Mar) IBAT-IBANG poster at kalendaryo ng Bayan Muna party list group ang nasamsam ng militar kasunod ng pakikipag-engkuwentro sa mga hinihinalang miyembro ng New People's Army (NPA) sa Toril, Davao City.

Nabatid ngayong araw kay kay Army spokesman Major Ernesto Torres, Jr. na nakasagupa ng mga elemento ng 73rd Infantry Battalion ang mga rebelde sa ilalim ng isang kumander Bobby sa bisinidad ng Barangay Eden sa naturang lalawigan.

Bukod sa mga campaign materials ng Bayan Muna, nakuha rin ng mga sundalo sa lugar ng insidente ang 52 rounds ng bala para sa M60, dalawang improvised landmines at mga subersibong dokumento.

Kasunod nito, hinamon ng opisyal ang liderato ng gerilyang grupo na patunayang wala itong kaunayan sa sinumang politiko.

"Following the report, we challenge the NPA leadership to prove that they are in no way associated with any political group who is running for elections in May," ani Torres sa Mindanao Examiner.

Mahigit sa 100 piraso ng kalendaryo na may larawan nina Reps. Satur Ocampo, Joel Virador at Teddy Casino at mga poster na humihikayat ng pagboto ang nakuha ng militar buhat sa mga rebelde.

Dalawang sundalo rin ang napatay kasunod ng sagupaan na nakilalang sina Staff Sergeant Conrado Nequiaz at Cafgu member at dating rebelde na si Gary Lopez.

Tatlo naman sa panig ng komunistang grupo ang napaslang bagamat nabigong marekober ng tropa ng pamahalaan ang mga labi nito. (Juley Reyes)