Pesante News

09/03/2008

Ocampo hits DoJ, PNP for defying court order on Echani�s transfer



By Charlie V. Manalo

Manila--Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo yesterday denounced the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Philippine National Police for defying a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) order transferring peasant leader Randall Echanis back to the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame.

Last Monday, Col. Cesar Magsino, chief custodial group, PNP, a certain Col. Degracia, HQ service and support group, PNP, defied the Manila RTC Branch 32 order by not taking custody of Echanis pursuant to DoJ advice through higher headquarters.

�The DoJ and the PNP�s defiance of the court�s order is a blatant display of arrogance, disregard of the rule of law, disrespect of court processes, just to continuously persecute Echanis as they did to me in 2007. It is becoming more evident that this trumped-up charge is intended to persecute all the accused in this case,� Ocampo said.

The case pertains to multiple murder charges way back in 1984 filed against Ocampo and several others with the RTC Branch 18 in Hilongos, Leyte. The Supreme Court (SC) granted Ocampo bail after hearing his petition for certiorari and prohibition in April 2007. The case was transferred to Manila RTC Branch 32 last July.

The Manila RTC Branch 32 last Friday ordered the transfer of Echanis, from Manila City Jail back to the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame.