After Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate questioned why the Quezon City Regional Trial Court-Branch 89 issued search warrants for raids on suspected New People’s Army (NPA) recruitment facilities in Bacolod City and Escalante City, Supreme Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka, in an interview with GMA News, said Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert acted “correctly and legally” in the matter.
The spokesperson added, Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta reminded judges to be deliberate, circumspect, and prudent with the issuances of warrants. He also suggested, if respondents are aggrieved  by the decision, they should file a motion to quash, or a request for the court to nullify a decision.
Additionally, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez pointed out, Manila and Quezon City executive judges can issue search warrants to be carried out nationwide as long as legal requirements are met.
Last week, at least 55 individuals, including 15 minors, were rounded up after operatives from the Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided the offices of various progressive groups in Bacolod City and Escalante City.
3ID spokesperson, Army Captain Cenon Pancito III, said the raids were conducted after receiving numerous reports claiming the said offices were stockpiling firearms and ammunition. Reports were also noted to have come from former NPA members who surrendered in Escalante City last September.
The military official also said the offices were reportedly being used as a recruitment facility for the NPA.
In response to the raids, Zarate raised questions as to why the warrants originated from Quezon City.
The legislator also slammed both the army and police, calling the operations “harassment,” and claimed the evidence recovered were “planted.”/DGB, WDJ