By Aaron Recuenco and Freddie Velez

Police will be filing a case of conspiracy to commit sedition against former Anakpawis partylist Rep. Ariel Casilao and six other people for alleged agitation and propaganda activity in a local community in Bulacan under the cover of a relief mission for those affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures. Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said an additional case of disobedience will be filed against the 40-year old Casilao and six other members of the Anapawis. (PNP PIO / MANILA BULLETIN) He identified the six other Anakpawis members as Karl Mae San Juan, 29; Marlon Lester Gueta, 26; Robero Medel, driver, 52; Eriberto Peña Jr., 60; Raymar Guaves, 21; and Tobi Estrada, 22. Banac said the operation stemmed from the interception of a jeepney at a police-manned quarantine control point (QCP) in Barangay Bigte, Norzagaray town at around 11 a.m. on Sunday. Banac said the six people on board were not among those included in the list of Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR). But the six said they would bring relief items to affected residents in Barangay Bigte. Norzagaray acting police chief Lt. Col. Jaime A. Quichio said the police at a checkpoint flagged down a jeepney bearing the Anakpawis members who could not present any documents to justify their travel, such as quarantine passes. Instead, the police discovered pamphlets, magazines and other subversive materials among the relief packs they were supposed to be distributing. Tarpaulins with inscriptions "Sagip Kanayunan Ang Tulong Anakpawis”  were hung at both sides of the passenger jeepney. Initial information also revealed that two of the accosted Anakpawis members were students of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). The police also reported that, at around 1 p.m., Sunday, former Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Barring Casilao arrived at the Norzagaray Municipal Police Station, saying that he was accompanying the Anakpawis members. Banac said Casilao will face additional charges for usurpation of authority for misrepresenting himself as a partylist representative of Anakpawis. “It was an elective post he previously held during the 17th Congress that ended in June 2019. Casilao is not a member of the 18th Congress as he claimed himself to be when he tried to intercede on behalf of the arrested Anakpawis members,” said Banac. Banac said the arrest was a proof of the intensified campaign against violators of the home quarantine. He assailed the group for allegedly engaging in a propaganda while the country is faced with the serious threat of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19). “It is terribly disturbing that this organization which styles itself as pro-people advocates of public welfare will rather promote its anti-government ideology at the expense of public health during this critical period of a national health crisis,” said Banac. “It is a matter of life or death that we need to make this quarantine work, but incidents of quarantine violation like this make containment efforts against the virus less effective and detrimental to public health,” he added. (Aaron Recuenco) Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) Director Brig. Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonio, for his part, said that while he believed in the noble spirit of “bayanihan” in these times of crisis, he said that this should be undertaken without malice, and should only be done in the true spirit of nationalism and patriotism.