(Eagle News)–“A lame publicity stunt.”
This was how Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes described lawyer Ferdinand Topacio’s offer of a P1 million bounty for the arrest of former Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño, former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza and former Agrarian Reform Secretary and Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, who have been ordered arrested by a Nueva Ecija court.
“What is the point of the PR gimmick of Topacio et al when the Palayan (Regional Trial Court) is already set to decide on the motion for reconsideration of the accused former lawmakers?” Reyes asked, noting that prosecutors did not object to the filing.
Reyes also rebuked Topacio, head of the Citizens Crime Watch, for being “quick to portray” the former lawmakers as “criminals” when “once upon a time, the CCW and Topacio were quick to march with the four on different issues.”
“Wow. Ang galing niyo ah. Atat kayong makulong ang apat,” he said.
Also ordered arrested by the Nueva Ecija court for the supposed murder of the left’s critics were militant organization officers Delfin Pimentel, Vicente Cayetano and Emeterio Atalan.