Former lawmaker Satur Ocampo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has ordered the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 to proceed with the multiple murder case against former lawmaker Satur Ocampo, Randall Echanis, Rafael Baylosis and Vicente Ladlad.
Several petitions were filed by Ocampo, Echanis, Baylosis and Ladlad questioning various orders of the lower court including the order for their arrest.
“The instant consolidated petitions are dismissed. The RTC of Manila Branch 32 is hereby ordered to proceed with dispatch with the hearing of the criminal case,” the high court said Tuesday.
However, the high court allowed all the accused to remain on temporary liberty based on the bail granted by the high court several years back.
The case stemmed from the discovery of the mass grave in August 2006 by elements of the 43d Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in Sitio (sub-village) Sapang Daco, Barangay (village) Kaulisihan, Inopapcan, Leyte.
The 15 skeletal remains were believed to be that of the victims of the “Operation Venereal Disease launched by members of the Communist Party of the Philippines in the 80s.
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