"The
charges against Ocampo and the others were filed after a mass grave was
discovered by elements of the 43rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine
Army in August 2006 at Sitio Mount Sapang Daco, Barangay Kaulisihan,
Inopacan, Leyte."
The case against former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Saturnino "Satur" Ocampo and others tagged in the supposed mass purging of members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army will continue.
This was after the Supreme Court—in an en banc summer session in Baguio City on Tuesday—denied a motion for reconsideration that sought to reverse its February 11 decision ordering a Manila court to resume hearing the multiple murder case.
"In a minute resolution, the court denied the motion for reconsideration of its decision dated February 11, 2014 filed on March 11, 2014 by counsel for petitioner Vicente P. Ladlad in G. R. 19005 in a minute resolution," said the SC Public Information Office in a statement.
The SC PIO said "no vote (was) indicated" in the resolution.
In its original ruling in February, the high court dismissed the consolidated petitions filed by Ocampo and co-accused Randall Echanis, Rafael Baylosis, and Vicente Ladlad contesting the criminal charges filed against them following the discovery of a mass grave in August 2006.
The high tribunal, however, ruled that Ocampo and the three other petitioners shall continue enjoying temporary liberty until the case is resolved or until their participation as consultants in peace negotiations with the government is terminated.
In his petition, Ocampo invoked the political offense doctrine, which states that a common crime such as murder is absorbed by a political offense like rebellion when the common crime is committed as a "necessary means, in connection with or in furtherance thereof."
In its February ruling, however, the SC said the political offense doctrine was not grounds to dismiss the charges against the petitioners "prior to the determination by the trial court that the murders were committed in furtherance of rebellion."
The high court also ruled that Ocampo and the other petitioners were given due process during the preliminary investigation and in the issuance of the arrest warrants.
Despite the case being non-bailable, Baylosis and Ladlad had earlier asked to be allowed to post bail, saying they were consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines negotiating panel to the peace talks with the Philippine government.
The charges against Ocampo and the others were filed after a mass grave was discovered by elements of the 43rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in August 2006 at Sitio Mount Sapang Daco, Barangay Kaulisihan, Inopacan, Leyte.
On March 7, 2007, arrest warrants against Ocampo and the other suspects were issued, after the prosecution claimed the bodies in the mass grave were victims of an alleged purge of New People's Army members in 1984 and 1985.
Ocampo has flatly denied the allegations, saying he was in government detention when the incidents occurred.
.jpg) |
| Satur Ocampo's photograph posted in Bagong Alyansang Makabayan's Facebook photo folder titled: Tribute to Gregorio Ka Roger Rosal |
The case against former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Saturnino "Satur" Ocampo and others tagged in the supposed mass purging of members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army will continue.
This was after the Supreme Court—in an en banc summer session in Baguio City on Tuesday—denied a motion for reconsideration that sought to reverse its February 11 decision ordering a Manila court to resume hearing the multiple murder case.
"In a minute resolution, the court denied the motion for reconsideration of its decision dated February 11, 2014 filed on March 11, 2014 by counsel for petitioner Vicente P. Ladlad in G. R. 19005 in a minute resolution," said the SC Public Information Office in a statement.
The SC PIO said "no vote (was) indicated" in the resolution.
In its original ruling in February, the high court dismissed the consolidated petitions filed by Ocampo and co-accused Randall Echanis, Rafael Baylosis, and Vicente Ladlad contesting the criminal charges filed against them following the discovery of a mass grave in August 2006.
 |
| Saturnino "Satur" Ocampo's photo posted in his Facebook account |
The high tribunal, however, ruled that Ocampo and the three other petitioners shall continue enjoying temporary liberty until the case is resolved or until their participation as consultants in peace negotiations with the government is terminated.
In his petition, Ocampo invoked the political offense doctrine, which states that a common crime such as murder is absorbed by a political offense like rebellion when the common crime is committed as a "necessary means, in connection with or in furtherance thereof."
In its February ruling, however, the SC said the political offense doctrine was not grounds to dismiss the charges against the petitioners "prior to the determination by the trial court that the murders were committed in furtherance of rebellion."
The high court also ruled that Ocampo and the other petitioners were given due process during the preliminary investigation and in the issuance of the arrest warrants.
Despite the case being non-bailable, Baylosis and Ladlad had earlier asked to be allowed to post bail, saying they were consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines negotiating panel to the peace talks with the Philippine government.
The charges against Ocampo and the others were filed after a mass grave was discovered by elements of the 43rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in August 2006 at Sitio Mount Sapang Daco, Barangay Kaulisihan, Inopacan, Leyte.
On March 7, 2007, arrest warrants against Ocampo and the other suspects were issued, after the prosecution claimed the bodies in the mass grave were victims of an alleged purge of New People's Army members in 1984 and 1985.
Ocampo has flatly denied the allegations, saying he was in government detention when the incidents occurred.
This article is a reprint from GMA News Online
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