Batasan 5 arrives in UP Diliman

The "Batasan 5" party-list lawmakers arrived Monday noon at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Quezon City after walking out of the House of Representatives amid cheers from supporters. Representatives Satur Ocampo, Joel Virador, Teodoro Casiño (Bayan Muna), Liza Maza (Gabriela) and Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis) left the Batasang Pambansa complex at 11 a.m., effectively ending the protective custody granted by the House leadership. The "rebel" congressmen were greeted by their constituents from the Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Anakpawis party-list groups. Other activist groups and opposition leaders were also at the Quezon Hall, home of UP's landmark Oblation statue, when the lawmakers arrived at around 12:30 noon. The five party-list representatives and their supporters are celebrating the leftist legislators' "legal victory" in their fight to uphold their rights following their attempted warrantless arrests by the police for rebellion charges. Malacañang's security cluster on Sunday night allowed the congressmen to leave the Batasan premises, conceding that the police could not arrest them since a Makati court has already junked the rebellion charges slapped against them. House Speaker Jose de Venecia said the departure of the five congressmen from the Batasang Pambansa effectively ended the House’s protective custody over them. De Venecia said that since the lawmakers are now free, "they don't need the protective custody anymore," GMA 7's DZBB reported.-GMANews.TV