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'Cheap political gimmick': Leftist leaders' camp slams P1-M arrest bounty

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<p>MANILA - A P1-million reward for the capture of an anti-poverty official and 3 former representatives of party-list group Bayan Muna is a &quot;cheap political gimmick&quot; to gain power, their camp said Sunday.</p><p>The group Citizen Crime Watch (CCW) on Saturday offered the bounty for the arrest of former congressmen Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño, Rafael Mariano, as well as National Anti-Poverty Commission convenor Liza Maza, who are facing a double murder charge for the alleged killing of political rivals.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/04/18/grupo-nag-alok-ng-p1-milyong-pabuya-sa-pagkakahuli-kina-satur-ocampo-3-iba-pa">Grupo nag-alok ng P1-milyong pabuya sa pagkakahuli kina Satur Ocampo, 3 iba pa</a></li></ul><p>&quot;This is a very cheap political gimmick, para lang magkaroon sila ng kapangyarihan at ma-appoint din siguro under the present administration,&quot; Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate told radio DZMM.</p><p>(This is a very cheap political gimmick so they can secure power and perhaps be appointed under the present administration.)</p><p>The bounty, he added, is part of the political persecution against leftist leaders who criticize the administrations &quot;anti-poor&quot; policies.</p><p>&quot;Siguro nandoon pa rin ang kanilang pagtingin na &#x27;pag pinilayan mo, especially iyung mga leader nila &#x27;pag nilagay mo sa kulungan, ay mapipigilan ang pagsambulat ng galit ng mamamayan,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Perhaps they think that if you cripple critics, jail their leaders, you can stop the public&#x27;s anger from erupting.)</p><p>&quot;Iyan ay isang pagkakamali nila. Napatunayan na sa ating kasaysayan na ang masa ay hindi mo kayang pigilan pagdating ng panahong nasasambulat na ang kanilang galit,&quot; he added.</p><p>(That&#x27;s their mistake. Our history has proven that you cannot stop the masses when their anger erupts.)</p><p>The bounty puts in danger the lives of the leftist leader, Zarate said, adding that the money could have been better used to go after drug lords or those behind the multi-million peso pork barrel scam.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1427976" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>A Nueva Ecija court last month issued the warrant of arrest against the leftist leaders.</p><p>The same court, however, said in 2008 that the case had no probable cause due to &quot;irregularities in the preliminary investigation&quot; and the failure of witnesses to appear before a fiscal to back their claims, said the leftist leaders&#x27; lawyer, Rachel Pastores.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/07/31/18/leftist-leaders-camp-questions-court-flip-flop-over-murder-rap">Leftist leaders&#x27; camp questions court flip-flop over murder rap</a></li></ul><p>Lawyer Neri Colmenares, himself a former representative of Bayan Muna representative, had claimed that the case was filed to discourage dissent during the time of then-President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.</p><p>Zarate questioned the timing of the 2006 case&#x27;s revival, noting that it comes as amid Arroyo&#x27;s recent <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/23/18/arroyo-completes-house-coup-after-sona"><strong>election as House speaker</strong></a>.</p><p>Separate rebellion and disqualification cases based on the witnesses&#x27; statements have been dismissed, he added.</p><p>The leftist leaders&#x27;s camp, he said, has filed a motion for reconsideration seeking to dismiss the case and the warrant of arrest against them.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/31/18/palace-tells-liza-maza-to-surrender">Palace tells Liza Maza to surrender</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/22/18/i-am-not-a-terrorist-satur-ocampo-tells-court">&#x27;I am not a terrorist,&#x27; Satur Ocampo tells court</a></li></ul>

<p>A P1-million reward for the capture of an anti-poverty official and 3 former representatives of party-list group Bayan Muna is a "cheap political gimmick" to gain power, their camp said Sunday.<br /> </p>

A P1-million reward for the capture of an anti-poverty official and 3 former representatives of party-list group Bayan Muna is a "cheap political gimmick" to gain power, their camp said Sunday.