DOJ summons Colmenares, Villarin, Elago over raps on ‘missing’ student

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has summoned a congresswoman and two former congressmen over trafficking and child abuse charges for the alleged kidnapping of a student who has already denied she was abducted.

A DOJ prosecutor has issued a subpoena to Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Elago, Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares, former Akbayan Representative Tom Villarin, Anakbayan Youth spokesperson Alex Danday, and Anakbayan chairperson Vencer Crisostomo.

The prosecutor also summoned individuals identified as Charie Del Rosario, Bianca Gacos, Jayroven Villafuente Balais, and Einstein Recedes to hearings on Aug. 27 and Sept. 10 and 24 at the DOJ for the filing of their counter-affidavits to the charges.

A preliminary investigation at the DOJ will result in a resolution on whether or not the prosecutor will file a case in court.

The respondents face charges for allegedly kidnapping and recruiting Alicia Lucena, a senior high school student at the Far Eastern University. Her mother, Relissa, had told a Senate hearing that she was missing.

However, Alicia said she voluntarily joined Anakbayan and left home on purpose.

'Where do you get your facts?'

The police have also added "all other officers" of Kabataan Party-list and "all other members" of Anakbayan as respondents to the complaint. The filing that contains this addition also mistakenly identified Villarin as former Anakbayan Party-list representative.

"CIDG filing a case against me as Anakbayan party list rep?!? Where do you get your facts? Saan napunta yung billions of intel funds niyo? Kaloka!" Villarin said in a tweet on Tuesday evening.

National Union of Peoples' Lawyers president Edre Olalia said he considers Colmenares' inclusion in the "false charge" as "totally absurd."

"Make no mistake about it: they are lining and rounding up the most voluble and visible people who stand in the way and who fight back against repression and injustice," Olalia said in a statement.

"It is indubitably part of the legal blitzkrieg and assault against legitimate dissent and those who push back and stand their ground," he added. — BM, GMA News