Former lawmakers raise their clenched fist together during a news conference in Quezon City. 黑料社 photo / Gabriel Pabico Lalu
A member of the Citizen鈥檚 Crime Watch (CCW) clarified that the group has two existing factions, and only one of which was responsible for the P1-million bounty offered for the capture of former lawmakers who were previously given arrest warrants.
鈥淒alawang paksyon po 鈥榶ong Citizens鈥� Crime Watch, 鈥榶ong Carlo Magno (Batalla) wing at saka 鈥榶ong Diego Magpantay wing,鈥� former CCW Vice President for Luzon Dr. Delmar Taclibon said during the press briefing of the Makabayan 4 on Tuesday.
鈥淣ililinaw ko po na 鈥榶ong bounty na P1 million na nakapatong sa magigiting nating Makabayan, wala pong kinalaman si Carlos Magno Batalla,鈥� Taclibon added.
(I鈥檓 making it clear that the P1-million bounty placed against our courageous Makabayan, [the faction of] Carlo Magno Batalla does not anything to do with this.)
Taclibon also emphasized that they have always been supportive of the advocacies of former lawmakers Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casi帽o, Liza Maza, and Rafael Mariano who recently faced arrests for a decade-old case regarding the alleged murder of a Bayan Muna critic in Palayan, Nueva Ecija.
The court has sided with the Makabayan 4 in its decision, voiding the warrants of arrest against them.
搁贰础顿:听Murder cases vs Liza Maza, et al. dismissed; warrants voided
鈥淜ami po na nakasama niyo ni Carlo sa lahat ng pakikibaka laban sa korapsyon, laban sa PDAF, laban sa DAP, ay nandito pa kami upang magpugay sa ating Makabayan 4,鈥� Taclibon added.
(We, who were with you along with Carlo in various struggles against corruption, against PDAF, against DAP, are here in support of our Makabayan 4.)
In an interview after the briefing, he further shared details on the division inside CCW, and the relation of CCW to the progressive groups and representatives.
鈥淒alawa kasi 鈥榶ong nagke-claim na presidente, ako neutral ako.聽聽Pumunta lang ako dito para linawin na walang kinalaman 鈥榶ong Batalla 鈥榙on,鈥� Taclibon explained.
(There are two factions that are claiming to be president, me I鈥檓 neutral. I just went here to clarify that the Batalla faction has nothing to do with this.)
鈥淏akit, anong makukuha niya (Batalla) kung maglalaan siya ng isang milyon para sa ating mga Makabayan?聽聽Mga Pilipino rin 鈥榶an na dapat sa due process (umasa), hindi 鈥榶ong winawagay-way pa 鈥榶ong pera na gano鈥檔,鈥� he noted.
(Why, what would he get out of this if he offers one million against our Makabayan? They are also Filipinos that rely on due process, and not those waving money around for the arrest.)
CCW鈥檚 legal panel Chair Atty. Ferdinand Topacio and CCW Founding President Ding Magpantay has previously offered a bounty for anyone who could give information that will lead to the arrest of the former lawmakers.
搁贰础顿:听Lawyer dangles P1-M bounty for capture of 4 militant execs
Atty. Rachel Pastores, legal counsel of the Makabayan 4, warned Topacio that his actions were not in accordance to the lawyers鈥� Code of Professional Conduct.聽聽She also said that they are considering the filing of disbarment and civil cases against him.
搁贰础顿:听鈥楳akabayan 4鈥� lawyer to Topacio: Prepare for disbarment
However, Topacio has reiterated that there is nothing wrong with raising a bounty for 鈥渇ugitives.鈥�
鈥淚 have the right to raise that bounty as a citizen, and as a member of an anti-crime watchdog [鈥 It is not the first time that it happened.聽聽Bounties have been raised by private citizens on so many occasions,鈥� he said. /jpv