Detention cells for 'Batasan 5' ready, PNP says

The detention quarters for the "Batasan Housemates" are ready for the "arrival" of their occupants, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Supt. Samuel Pagdilao said on Tuesday. Pagdilao said there are plenty of "rooms" in the detention facilities of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) which the five party-list congressmen could occupy once arrested by the police. Pagdilao said the PNP remains confident that the Justice Department would act favorably on their motion that Representatives Satur Ocampo (Bayan Muna), Teodoro Casiño (Bayan Muna), Joel Virador (Bayan Muna), Liza Maza (Gabriela) and Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis) be placed under their custody. The five lawmakers remain under the protective custody of the House of Representatives, where they have been camping out since February 27 after police operatives attempted to effect warrantless arrests against them. Pagdilao said initial guidelines have been agreed upon, among them the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. visiting hours for the congressmen. The legislators would also be prohibited from using their cellular phones while under detention, Pagdilao added. The congressmen have previously said they would only surrender to the police once the proper courts issue warrants of arrest. The PNP-CIDG slapped rebellion charges against the five lawmakers for their alleged involvement in the botched coup against President Arroyo last February 24, the same day a state of national emergency was declared.-GMANews.TV