VACC readies ‘citizens arrest’ teams for 3 senators

(From left) Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA—Citizens arrest teams are being prepared by a crime watch group in anticipation of the issuance of warrants for the arrest of the “Top 3” senators implicated in the pork barrel scam.

“We are now forming the members who will compose the citizen arrest teams,” Dante Jimenez, founding chair of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, told the Inquirer on Friday.

“Just in case the Sandiganbayan issues warrants of arrest, the VACC will be posting these teams where they live,” Jimenez said, referring to Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Bong Revilla.

“It also aims to give moral support to the police and send a message that we shouldn’t be afraid,” Jimenez added.

Citing recent reports of VIP treatment being given to high-profile Bilibid prisoners, Jimenez said the group was concerned that special treatment would also be given the senators.

“What is happening now is that the culture of ‘gaya-gaya puto maya’ (imitation)is being perpetuated because of the way we give special treatment to suspects who occupy high positions,” he said.

“The way we are ‘baby-sitting’ Janet Napoles, the mastermind of this scam, is sending the wrong signals to criminals,” Jimenez said. “This ugly culture of impunity where the rich and powerful have a separate system of punishment from the poor should be stamped out from our justice system.”