The embattled solons aired this apprehension as they decided to leave the Speaker’s conference room to transfer to their respective offices and stay there until threats for their arrest disappear.

The move is believed to be part of a strategy for them to elude arrest in the event their information of a PNP assault is true.

However, their colleagues said their fears were unfounded.

House Assistant Minority Leader Satur Ocampo and four other congressmen belonging to left-leaning party-list organizations said they were leaving the Speaker’s conference room a day after House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr. complained that their stay in the conference room has denied him the use of the area.

Together with Reps. Joel Virador (Bayan Muna), Teodoro Casino (Bayan Muna), Liza Maza (Gabriela), and Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis), Ocampo said they would no longer accept the hospitality of the Lower House which had extended to them protective custody from arrest. (BRR)

"We will return his (De Venecia) anteroom to him. We will just stay in our offices. We will buy our own food. We want our good relations here in the House to be maintained," he said.

The five beleaguered solons are facing rebellion charges for allegedly colluding with the New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) in carrying out a plot to overthrow the government.

Ocampo said that while they are under the protective custody of the Lower House, the PNP has been conducting a disinformation campaign against them and Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran to "build a clamor for the PNP to make an arrest."

Ocampo complained that the PNP has claimed that charges have already been filed against them when in truth, no court has yet accepted complaints against them. (Ben R. Rosario)