PNP chief welcomes bounty vs. militant leaders

Speaking to newsmen, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde clarified that the sum is not a “dead or alive” offer and urged the militant leaders to turn themselves in. (File photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the reward offered for information on the whereabouts of progressive leaders, who were ordered arrested for murder.

Speaking to newsmen, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde clarified that the sum is not a “dead or alive” offer and urged the militant leaders to turn themselves in.

“We welcome the reward offer put-up by private citizens to hasten the judicial process in a murder case involving four prominent personalities affiliated with party-list organizations and militant cause-oriented groups. The reward of PHP1 million for information leading to the arrest of Satur Ocampo, Rafael Mariano, Liza Maza and Teodoro Casiño should encourage would-be informants to provide relevant information on the whereabouts of these wanted persons,” Albayalde said.

“Although the reward offer is not officially part of the government reward program, I must clarify that this is not a dead or alive bounty, but monetary compensation for information provided. At any rate, I would like to reiterate our appeal to the concerned individuals to turn themselves in and face the issue squarely before the bar of justice,” the PNP chief added.

Albayalde said tracker teams from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation are working on leads and expect to obtain positive results soon.

Last July 11, Palayan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 40 Judge Evelyn Atienza Turla issued an arrest warrant against former Bayan Muna Representatives Ocampo and Casiño; Mariano, a former Anakpawis representative and Agrarian Reform secretary and Maza, former Gabriela representative and now head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

They were tagged in the abduction and murder of New People’s Army rebels Danilo Felipe in 2001, Jimmy Peralta in 2003 and Carlito Bayudang in 2004.

The PNP chief added that there will be no special treatment for the said personalities.