Lawyer dangles P1-M bounty for capture of 4 militant execs

Lawyer Ferdie Topacio has offered a total of P1-million reward money to anyone who could provide information that will lead to the arrest of four militant leaders with outstanding arrest warrants.

At a press conference on Saturday, Topacio announced that P250,000 worth of reward money has been raised for the capture of each of the four leftist leaders.

The arrest warrants were issued against former Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño, former Gabriela Representative now National Anti Poverty Commission Chair Liza Maza, former Agrarian Reform Secretary and former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano.

Another set of arrest warrants were also issued against fellow militant organization officers Vicente Cayetano, Delfin Pimentel and Emeterio Atalan.

Topacio, being a lawyer and legal panel chair of the Citizen’s Crime Watch (CCW), said he has the responsibility to offer rewards for the arrest of those who are wanted for justice.

He said “concerned” private citizens have raised the P1-million reward money to anyone who could give substantial informaton that would lead to the arrest of three former House representatives and a cabinet chair accused of double murder charges 12 years ago.

During the news conference  at the UP Diliman, Topacio, said seven private people and businessmen–some of them his former clients—have “donated” P1 million.

Topacio said he recently met the donors in a party in Quezon City where they brought up their concerns.The donation was coursed through the CCW.

“You will be surprised some people are already fed up with the antics of some of these politicians. These people  are silent people, but deep down inside they are concerned of what’s happening in the country…these are simple businessmen,” he said, without naming the “contributors.”

The reward money, wrapped in  bundles, were shown to the media as they posed with four huge tarpaulins containing the photos of the four targeted political leaders.

Diego Magpantay, CCW chair, said the group has already coordinated with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). The Philippine National Police has earlier urged the four to surrender.
The Palayan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued the arrest warrants against the former lawmakers on double murder charges.

READ: Ocampo, former lawmakers denounce arrest warrants

The Philippine National Police earlier urged the four militant leaders to surrender to the police instead of waiting for the arrest warrant to be served against them. /jpv

READ: Surrender, PNP tells 4 militant leaders