'Ilabas nila': Magsasaka party-list exec dares PNP to release body cam footage on nominee's arrest

MANILA -- The secretary general of Magsasaka party-list dared on Monday the Philippine National Police (PNP) to release the body cam footage captured during the alleged serving of a warrant of arrest against their party-list nominee.

This, after the PNP denied that the operation was an assassination attempt, and that the police involved were only serving Magsasaka party-list nominee Lejun Dela Cruz a warrant of arrest from a 1992 murder case.

Police deny alleged assassination attempt against party-list nominee Lejun Dela Cruz

"Ilabas po nila 'yung body cam. I'm really interested with that body cam kung mayroon po talaga. Para makita talaga once and for all kasi we would not condone kung ang aming isang miyembro ay nagkasala. Pero, of course, ngayon siya ang paniniwalaan namin pag wala pang ebidensya [against him]," Atty. General Du, Magsasaka party-list secretary general, said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo's Issue Spotted.

Du added that Dela Cruz is "100 percent sure" that the police involved in the operation were not wearing any body cameras.

"Actually, nakita ko po 'yung picture nung pulis na nabunggo. Mayroon akong nakalap na ebidensiya at kkitang-kita po doon wala rin siyang body cam," he said.

"Pero mahirap naman pabulaanan agad 'yung sinsasabi ng pulis. Pero ang sa amin lang, kung mayroon silang body cam, ilabas nila. Better for us para we  could find the truth talaga," he continued.

Magsasaka Partylist nominee found after alleged police beating, gunfire attack

Dela Cruz, the third nominee of the party-list, was found on Sunday afternoon at the Manggahan police station in Pasig after going missing. According to Du, Dela Cruz was fired upon by a man in civilian clothes and chased by several motorcycles and a sedan.

He eventually surrendered in Pasig. According to his lawyer, Dela Cruz was beaten for almost three hours, sustaining bruises and abrasions to his face, knees, and elbows.

Dela Cruz is a former member of the Alex Boncayao Brigade but has since turned to legal work, organizing farmers, workers, and communities.