Solon slams Panelo’s remark that due process accorded to Ocampo, Castro

Anakpawis party-list Representative Ariel Casilao on Saturday slammed presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo for saying that due process is being accorded to former Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro.

On Friday, Panelo said due process is being accorded to Ocampo and France Castro to give them the opportunity to file counter affidavits to refute the allegations against them. 

The Palace spokesman also reminded that "the rule of law must always prevail in a democracy."

Casilao, however, is not buying Panelo's comments.

"Nakakatawa na si Secretary Panelo ay magsasabi ng rule of law," the lawmaker said at a press conference in Quezon City.

"Patunayan muna nila na may credibility at moral ascendancy sila na magsabi ng ganyan. Ikulong muna nila si Imelda [Marcos] at kami ay maniniwala. Ikulong muna nila si Imelda, at sabihin nila na may rule of law at due process sa ating bansa," he said.

"Sila Ka Satur, may rule of law at due process? Pero si Imelda convicted, nagnakaw nakalaya, nagpa-party," he added.

Ocampo, Castro, and 17 others are currently detained in Davao del Norte and facing charges for violating Republic Act No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act of 2012.

They were stopped by the military on Wednesday night on their way to a lumad school in Talaingod town for a solidarity mission. They were supposed to distribute food and school supplies to the children in the school, which they claimed were under attack by the military.

"Patunayan muna nila na 'yung 2,000 na pinatay na drug suspects under the war on drugs ay talagang addict at mga pusher... Pero ito mga drug lord na nakapagpasok ng P11 billion, P6.4 billion na shabu wala man lang nakulong. Baka sila may rule of law, may due process sila pero itong mga tokhang victims wala," Casilao said.

"Hindi po dapat tayo maglokohan dito. Ang Malacañang mismo ang pilit na nagtatakip sa isang malaking butas at garapal na paglabag sa rule of law at sinasabing due process na 'yan," he said.

In his statement, Panelo advised Ocampo and his supporters to "hold their horses."

"Rashly jumping into conclusions and engaging in propaganda war not only is unproductive but an attempt to resort to a trial by publicity against the government by those identified with the left," the Palace spokesman said. —KG, GMA News