PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde. INQUIRER PHOTO/ JAM STA ROSA
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde is appealing to former Makabayan bloc lawmakers charged with murder to surrender peacefully.
In a press briefing Monday, Albayalde said the PNP already had a copy of the warrant of arrest against former representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño, Liza Maza, Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano, and other individuals Vicente Cayetano, Delfin Pimentel, and Emerisio Antalan.
“The PNP is duty-bound to implement orders of judicial authorities. This is our constitutional mandate,” Albayalde said, relaying his directive to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to implement the arrest order.
However, he added that law enforcers must enforce the warrants “with due consideration to human rights and dignity of the accused,”
Albayalde said he was appealing to the accused out of respect for them being former and incumbent government officials.
“I’m appealing to these individuals to just turn themselves over and submit to judicial processes,” he added.
On Friday, Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares confirmed that a warrant had been issued by Judge Evelyn Turla of the Regional Trial Court 40 of Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, over the alleged killing of Bayan Muna critics in that city.
“Murder, killing daw ng ilang miyembro ng isang barangay na mga nagkakampanya daw laban sa Bayan Muna. Pumunta raw si Satur, si Teddy, si Liza, si Ka Paeng doon sa isang barangay sa Nueva Ecija para patayin ‘yong kalaban ng Bayan Muna,” Colmenares said.
READ: Colmenares confirms warrant vs former Makabayan lawmakers
In an ambush interview, Albayalde said that while they had not received surrender feelers from the group, the PNP was willing to give them time before they meet with authorities.
“We will give them enough time to personally appear or surrender. We are giving them the respect, being government officials, para maayos na lang,” he said.
“Probably within the week makikita natin if there will be a reaction on their part. Of course, kung talagang kinakailangan talagang i-serve, kautusan naman ng korte ‘yan whether you’re a government official or not,” he added. /cbb