MANILA — Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo today denounced the Armed
Forces of the Philippines over an assault at Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s
residential compound in Bocaue, Bulacan by soldiers in civilian
clothes.
“The military, through Col. Gerald Gomez, has admitted that they were
his soldiers but claims that they had come from a pursuit of New
People’s Army rebels. If so, why were they in civilian clothes?” asked
Ocampo.
“Bayan Muna condemns this military attack on the Villanueva family.
This may be due to his support for oppositionist candidates in the
forthcoming elections,” Ocampo said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casio also said that the incident proves that
Palparan’s partylist is “sponsored and supported by the AFP” and thus
“must be disqualified.”
“The AFP is being used by Palparan for his so-called partylist
campaign,” said Casio. “That is illegal.”
Ocampo asked: “Has peace and order plunged to such lows, that a former
President’s phone can now be easily bugged and a religious leader’s
family compound be attacked with such brazenness?”
“Sadly, its state security forces purportedly tasked to protect all of
us who are behind this,” notes Ocampo.
Ocampo notes a report that the soldiers who attacked the Villanueva
compound were seen earlier putting up posters of retired Gen. Jovito
Palparan’s partylist group, while removing those of Cibac, an
oppositionist partylist led by Rep. Joel Villanueva, youngest son of
the influential religious leader.
The Cibac partylist solon endorsed the 2005 and 2006 impeachment
complaint against President Arroyo and, like Ocampo, is a deputy
minority leader in the House of Representatives.
Jon-jon Villanueva, Bro. Eddie’s eldest son, is running in the May 14
elections to win back the Bocaue mayoralty post which he lost in
2004, the same year Bro. Eddie Villanueva fought President Arroyo in
the elections.
The shooting incident occurred at around 2:00 am today May 4. One of
the soldiers was purportedly killed and fourteen others arrested.
Seized were four motorcycles and a silver pick-up with plate number
CJK-726 loaded with a still undetermined number of ammunition and
firearms. ###
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