Dismissal of murder raps vs Liza Maza proves legal system works—Palace

The dismissal of double-murder charges against anti-poverty chief Liza Maza and three former leftist lawmakers has proven that the Philippine legal system is working, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

A Nueva Ecija trial court in Palayan City junked the charges against Maza, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, and former Bayan Muna lawmakers Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño for lack of evidence.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said they are happy that Maza, whose position has been deemed crucial in the government’s fight against poverty, can now come back to work.

“Well, of course, that proves that the legal system is working. We’re happy that Sec. Liza Maza can come back to work,” Roque told reporters.

“Hindi ko po alam (kung nakabalik na siya sa work), but now that she has no outstanding warrant of arrest, I suppose she can go back to work,” he said.

READ: Murder cases vs Liza Maza, et al. dismissed; warrants voided

The junked charges against Maza and the three leftist leaders stemmed from alleged election-related violence under the Arroyo administration in 2006.

In dismissing the charges, the court’s decision stated that “the evidence on hand absolutely fails to support a finding of probable cause against accused-movants.” /je