We launched this BLOG Site as requested byMigrant Filipinos, friends and people whom Ka Satur has touched their lives during his several visits in Geneva, Switzerland.
We stand for JUSTICE. Defend BAYAN MUNA from Fraud, Violence and Repression!
The Philippine National Police arrested Bayan Muna (People First Party) Representative Satur Ocampo on 16 March 2007 while he was filing a Petition for Certiorari before the Supreme Court seeking to quash the baseless criminal complaint against him filed by government prosecutors. The Supreme Court ordered a Hearing before the Court on March 23 on his petition and his prayer to hold in abeyance the execution of the warrant of arrest.
Rep. Satur’s lawyers contend that the Supreme Court intended that a hearing on the issue must first be heard before the warrant is executed in order not to render the March 23 hearing moot. They argue that there is no need to arrest Satur before the March 23 hearing especially since Rep. Satur, who is currently campaigning for reelection, has publicly stated that he will face the charges against him and will not evade arrest. The government, however, insisted on arresting Satur despite the Supreme Court order for a Hearing and has confined him at the Manila Police Headquarters. The government is also threatening to immediately transfer him to the hinterlands of Leyte, where the prosecutors chose to file the case, hundreds of miles from Manila. Satur’s lawyers argue that he could not be transferred absent an order from the Supreme Court now that the court has taken cognizance of his petition.
Based on this unjust decision, Rep. Satur will be physically restrained from fulfilling his function as a member of Congress and his role as the lead campaigner of his party Bayan Muna, which continues to top the poll surveys getting the support of 17% of the voters.
The case is baseless and, therefore, pure harassment because it charges Satur with murder committed 22 years ago when he was in prison under Marcos’ martial law regime. Rep. Satur, who was one of the main authors of the law prohibiting death penalty in the Philippines, could not have possibly committed the crimes imputed on him.
The Philippines has been beset with political instability following rising protest against Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on charges of corruption, electoral fraud and human rights violations. Satur and Bayan Muna actively campaigned for the impeachment of Pres. Arroyo on these charges, particularly the escalating political killings against members of Bayan Muna and other opposition parties, the media, church workers and human rights activists. More than 838 people have died, 130 of them members of Bayan Muna, since Pres. Arroyo came to power in 2001.
FREE SATUR OCAMPO!
FREE CRISPIN 'ka bel' BELTRAN
Rep. Satur’s lawyers contend that the Supreme Court intended that a hearing on the issue must first be heard before the warrant is executed in order not to render the March 23 hearing moot. They argue that there is no need to arrest Satur before the March 23 hearing especially since Rep. Satur, who is currently campaigning for reelection, has publicly stated that he will face the charges against him and will not evade arrest. The government, however, insisted on arresting Satur despite the Supreme Court order for a Hearing and has confined him at the Manila Police Headquarters. The government is also threatening to immediately transfer him to the hinterlands of Leyte, where the prosecutors chose to file the case, hundreds of miles from Manila. Satur’s lawyers argue that he could not be transferred absent an order from the Supreme Court now that the court has taken cognizance of his petition.
Based on this unjust decision, Rep. Satur will be physically restrained from fulfilling his function as a member of Congress and his role as the lead campaigner of his party Bayan Muna, which continues to top the poll surveys getting the support of 17% of the voters.
The case is baseless and, therefore, pure harassment because it charges Satur with murder committed 22 years ago when he was in prison under Marcos’ martial law regime. Rep. Satur, who was one of the main authors of the law prohibiting death penalty in the Philippines, could not have possibly committed the crimes imputed on him.
The Philippines has been beset with political instability following rising protest against Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on charges of corruption, electoral fraud and human rights violations. Satur and Bayan Muna actively campaigned for the impeachment of Pres. Arroyo on these charges, particularly the escalating political killings against members of Bayan Muna and other opposition parties, the media, church workers and human rights activists. More than 838 people have died, 130 of them members of Bayan Muna, since Pres. Arroyo came to power in 2001.
FREE SATUR OCAMPO!
FREE CRISPIN 'ka bel' BELTRAN
END POLITICAL REPRESSION!
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