Former Jagna mayor Exuperio Lloren was escorted by two members of the CIDG-Bohol and one from the Military Intelligence Group to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headquarters at Camp Crame onboard the first flight to Manila on Monday.
Lt. Col. Escalona of the Staff Judge Advocate-Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the CIDG Major Crimes Investigating Unit met them at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 at around 9:10 a.m.
Lloren was arrested on Saturday morning by a composite team of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Bohol Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team at his residence in barangay Pagina, Jagna.
The operation was based on the warrant of arrest issued by RTC Branch 32 Presiding Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina in Manila for 15 counts of murder, along with Jose Maria Sison—top leader of the National Democratic Front.
While in Bohol, Lloren was detained inside the CIDG headquarters at Camp Dagohoy and not at the lock-up jail.
Friends in the political pool visited Lloren and were also surprised about his arrest.
Friends in politics knew such warrant of arrest was already there several years ago, but Lloren’s first name was misspelled as Exuperado then.
For his part, Boholano Bar topnotcher and former governor Victor dela Serna believes that former Lloren can file a petition for bail, considering that the criminal cases were related to rebellion.
Dela Serna cited the case of former NPA leader, Roy Erecre, who was allowed to post bail, citing rebellion as the main issue.
Lloren was former secretary of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army-Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
Dela Serna said cited that since there in an ongoing peace negotiation with the NPA, it had been set that leaders of rebellion—of the NPA–will be exempt from arrest pending negotiation, Lloren could not be arrested.
It is clear that Lloren was listed among the leaders of the NPA, being former secretary of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army-Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
However, the former governor said he understands that the arresting officers were just following orders.
Dela Serna explained that rebellion—as a political offense—those committed against the government, inciting rebellion, inciting sedition can absorb all crimes committed in its course of commission.
Rebellion is a crime that is bailable, but murder, rape with homicide, robbery and others are non-bailable.
The court did not charge Satur Ocampo, Lloren, Sison, and others with rebellion, but murder.
Moreover, the crimes were committed in Leyte, it is questionable why the warrant of arrest was issued by a Manila RTC, Dela Serna added.
However, it can be traced that Ocampo, Sison, and others requested the case to be transferred to Manila.
Still, Dela Serna pointed out why was there a case of murder when the murder was committed in the course of rebellion, when they were absorbed in one crime.
Dela Serna also cited that when he defended Roy Erecre—another former ranking official of NPA—he latter was allowed to post bail.
He also cited that Erecre has murder cases in Guihulngan in Negros Oriental and Danao City in Cebu–filed in the place of commission.
Friends noted that Lloren had long embraced the mainstream as he had been a barangay captain and even became president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in their town; mayor for three terms; the as vice mayor. He ran for mayor in 2013 elections, but lost.