Satur Ocampo to ask Comelec to dismiss disqualification case

MANILA, Philippines -- Senatorial candidate Satur Ocampo wants the disqualification case against him dismissed, calling it a sham initiated by the Arroyo administration against its critics.

Ocampo, a representative in Congress of Bayan Muna party list, will attend the hearing of the second division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at 2 p.m. Tuesday on the disqualification case.

The complaint was filed by a certain Krestoric C. Magbanua on November 1, 2009.

Ocampo together with Representative Liza Maza of Gabriela party list will run for the Senate in the May 2010 elections under the Makabayan coalition, which allied with the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel Villar.

"Just like previous disqualification cases filed against Satur Ocampo and Bayan Muna, the complaint filed by a certain Krestoric C. Magbanua last November 1, 2009 is a sham,” Bayan Muna party list Representative Teodoro Casino said in a statement Monday.

Casino added that Magbanua was a “confirmed military agent” who has been making the rounds of schools and communities in Laguna showing ‘Knowing the Enemy,’ a military propaganda material against the communists and their alleged allies.

He said the Magbanua’s complaint is full of fabrications and innuendos, even citing events that never happened.

"For example, complainant alleges that I attended a student's convention in 1998, over 10 years ago, just to say that I lectured about the political underground. Not only is this untrue, it is sheer red baiting and has nothing to do at all with Satur Ocampo's senatorial candidacy," Casiño said.

"The fact is that since 2001, the Arroyo government and the military in particular has been trying to stop Satur from representing the marginalized and underrepresented sectors in Congress. Now that he is running for higher office, they are even more desperate in trying to disqualify him," he added.

In 2001, 2004 and 2007, similar disqualification cases against Ocampo and Bayan Muna partylist were dismissed by the Comelec.

"We are confident that the Comelec will dismiss this latest attempt to stop Satur from seeking public office. In his nine years in Congress, Satur has proven himself to be worthy of a Senate seat. The Arroyo administration and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) should accept this reality and not resort to ridiculous, fabricated stunts like Magbanua's complaint," Casino said.

The Makabayan Coalition is composed of progressive partylist groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women's Party, Kabataan, Katribu, Courage, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party, Migrante and various personalities nationwide.