Ex-solons decry issuance of arrest warrant for 2006 ‘trumped-up’ murder charges
Four former members of the Makabayan bloc on Friday decried the issuance of a warrant of arrest against them over alleged “trumped-up” murder charges filed in 2006.
Lawyer Rachel Pastores said in a press conference that they have learned of the warrant for the arrest of former Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño (Bayan Muna), National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza (Gabriela), and former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis) last Wednesday.
The four are supposedly linked to the killings of Bayan Muna critics in Nueva Ecija.
However, the former representatives are questioning Palayan RTC judge Evelyn Atienza-Turla for altering her previous ruling that the information/complaint filed did not meet the standards for probable cause.
“Kung matutuloy ito napakalaking paglabag sa karapatan ng magigiting na kasama natin,” she said.
Pastores said they will file a motion for reconsideration on Monday on the murder cases.
“Malinaw pa sa simula pa lang na incredible ito na kwento,” she said, citing that the case was even used to seek disqualification cases for the former officials before the 2007 elections. It was later junked by the Comelec.
“Malaking injustice ang nangyayari dito at pinaghahandaan namin ito kung paano lalabanan,” she said. /vvp
