NEWS RELEASE
February 27, 2007


Batasan 5 marks anniversary at Comelec with initial victory vs.
disqualification case

Following a dialogue with partylist Members of Congress, Commission on
Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos ordered today – the first anniversary
of the Batasan 5's protective custody by the House of Representatives
– the reclassification of the trumped-up disqualification case 
against
Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela from a special civil action to a
special proceeding.

Bayan Muna secretary-general Nathanael Santiago said the
reclassification of the Bayudang and Felipe cases into special
proceedings is consistent with Section 32 of the Comelec Rules of
Procedure. "This means that the summons will be reissued, and that we
will be given five days, instead of just three, to file an answer from
the day we receive the new summons."

"More importantly, the special proceedings will have full-blown
hearings that will provide parties an equal opportunity to argue their
positions. For us, this will give us a chance to cross-examine the
witnesses and evidence put forward by Bayudang and Felipe," said
Santiago.

House Deputy Minority Leader Satur C. Ocampo of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis
Rep. Rafael Mariano, Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, Batasan 5 legal counsel
Romeo T. Capulong and Santiago were among the group of partylist
leaders who met Abalos this morning at his office at the Comelec.

"This is a victory that marks the first year anniversary of the
Batasan 5 when the House granted protective custody on us partylist
representatives against arbitrary arrest in the aftermath of the
issuance of Proclamation 1017," said Ocampo.

The Batasan 5 resurfaced at the House on Feb. 27, 2006, two days after
Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran was illegally arrested and following a
similar attempt on Ocampo.

According to Capulong, respondents to the Bayudang and Felipe cases
will demand that the Comelec summon National Security Adviser Norberto
Gonzales, Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez, Presidential Legal Counsel
Sergio Apostol and AFP chief Hermogenes Ebdane to appear before the
hearings.

"These persons, through their statements against respondents, are the
real interested parties in this case. They should be compelled to
appear before the Comelec and have themselves argue these fabricated
cases," said Capulong. ###

Note: Attached are Bayan Muna's written "answers" to the Bayudang and
Felipe complaints, which may still be changed upon receipt of the
summons from the Comelec.