EDITORIAL — Timing

See what happens when the government goes after a candidate during election season. If re-electionist party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and the other candidates of his left-leaning group Bayan Muna are returned by voters to Congress in May, they should send the government a thank-you note.

Ocampo, former spokesman of the communist National Democratic Front, was arrested yesterday in connection with the discovery of a mass grave in Leyte in 2002. Security forces said the 15 skeletal remains found in the grave were those of communist rebels executed by their comrades on suspicion of being government spies. Ocampo countered that some of the remains were "recycled" by the military from another mass grave and denied involvement in the killings.

The warrant for his arrest was issued as the military continued to defend the deployment of troops in Metro Manila ostensibly for training in civil-military operations. The training includes giving children in the slums free haircuts and circumcision. Left-wing activists say the main purpose is to use the military to campaign against left-leaning party-list groups.

The unusual troop deployment during an election season, like Ocampo’s arrest, have kept left-wing militants constantly in the news for several weeks now, and have given them reason to accuse the government of political persecution. If this is how the government intends to crush the communist insurgency, the opposite effect is being achieved. Anyone involved in mass murder must be punished. Ocampo’s arrest warrant was issued by a judicial court, which is supposed to be independent of Malacañang. But the timing of Ocampo’s arrest, after a long period of waiting for judicial action on the case, can only bolster his claim of political harassment and enhance his image as an underdog. All that publicity can only boost his name recall – a prized asset for any candidate.

That name recall will keep him and his group in the consciousness of voters even while he is in detention. If Ocampo’s group wins, only a final conviction will prevent him from assuming his seat in Congress. Given the pace of justice in this country, that conviction is unlikely within the year.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, whose passion to crush the communists borders on the pathological, sees the insurgency ending by 2010. Recent moves by the government against left-leaning groups can only be counterproductive.