The Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) has assured former Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao and six other
alleged party-list members that they will be treated fairly and
with due process as the Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed cases
against them for violating the Enhanced Community Quarantine, failure to
practice social distancing, and attempting to organize a mass gathering in the
guise of an alleged relief operation.
“The rule of law does not stop during a
public health emergency. The DILG respects the rights of the detained Anakpawis
members and we assure them that they will have their day in court. Since nahuli
na sila, sa hukom na lang sila magpaliwanag,” said DILG Undersecretary and
Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.
PNP said that the Anakpawis
solon were caught in the act by the Norzagaray Police in checkpoint: “Clearly,
they violated quarantine rules because they are Unauthorized Persons Outside of
Residence (UPOR), they misrepresented a Food Pass to gain passage through
checkpoints, there was no coordination with the LGU of Norzagaray, Bulacan for
this alleged relief operation, and they intimidated our police officers by
using a congressman who in fact is no longer an incumbent member of Congress,
among others,” he said.
Malaya said those detained
are entitled to a representation of their own choice. “I’m sure a battalion of
lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and Public Interest
Law Center (PILC) has been mobilized by their central committee for this
purpose. So, sa hukuman na lang sila magpaliwanag,” he said.
He explains that the PNP and
the DILG are busy with the COVID-19 pandemic and the strict implementation of
the enhanced community quarantine, so much so that they don’t have any more strength
to deal with Anakpawis and similar “pasaway” organizations.
“Instead sana of being pasaway,
tulungan ninyo na lang ang gobyerno for a change. Stay home and save lives,” he
said.
He said that all the six (6) have been
charged for violation of the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act and for violation of
Section 9, Art. 1132 (Non-cooperation of persons), Art. 151 (resistance and
disobedience to a person in authority) of the Revised Penal Code in relation to
IATF directive dated April 2, 2020 and DOH Dept Order 2020-0090 and EO 922, Sec
4 (all citizens are urged to act within the bounds of law). Former Cong.
Casilao will also be charged for usurpation of authority under Art 177 of the
Revised Penal Code.
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