Bayan chairperson opens house for inspection

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) chairperson Carol Araullo on Thursday opened her house for inspection by barangay officials and village security to prove that she was not hiding anything illegal.

"Wala akong nakita na kung ano man na mga firearms," Barangay official Noel Abecendario said after the search.  

According to a report by Victoria Tulad on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho on Thursday, Araullo requested for the inspection amid an alleged crack down on militant groups.

Last week, 57 members of Bayan and other progressive groups were arrested in a raid in Negros Province allegedly due to illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

On November 5, authorities raided Bayan's office in Tondo, Manila, arresting three members for the same complaints.

"Nakatanggap kami ng information, may mga natitira pang mga search warrants na pending, and ang reports sa amin, offices and residences of known leaders of progressive organizations," Araullo said.

According to the report, Araullo feared that the authorities would plant guns and grenades to arrest members should the raids push through, similar to what happened in Negros and Tondo.

On Wednesday, Bayan, National Union of People's Lawyers, Kabataan Party-List and several militant groups in Quezon City allowed their offices to be inspected by the Commission on Human Rights and barangay officials.

Nothing illegal was found by authorities.

The groups also placed tarpaulins on their gates, saying that they had no guns and bombs in the offices. The tarpaulins also prohibited the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines from entering.

According to PNP, the groups have nothing to fear if they are not doing anything illegal. They also denied allegations that they are planting evidence.

"Ang nais lamang nating i-emphasize ay wala pong crackdown na nangyayari at ang lahat naman po ng nagaganap at ginagawang law enforcement operations, paghahain ng mga search warrants ay batay po sa mga umiiral na batas," PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News