Bayan leader welcomes dismissal of charges vs Maza, et al.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes welcomed the dismissal of murder charges against Anti-Poverty Commissioner Liza Maza, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael “Paeng” Mariano, and former Bayan Muna House Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casino.

“We thank Judge Trese Wenceslao for exercising fairness in this case as well as the prosecutors who did not object to the motion to dismiss. We thank all supporters who campaigned for the #Makabayan4!” Reyes said in a statement on Monday, hours after the Palayan, Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court ordered the dismissal of the cases.

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

The order also voided the arrest warrants issued against the four, who were accused of murder for the death of Akbayan partylist supporters Carlito Bayudang, Jimmy Peralta, and Danny Felipe, in 2006.

“Tuloy ang laban sa mga gawa-gawang kaso at para sa karapatang pantao! The filing of trumped-up charges against activists should end,” Reyes added.

In a separate statement, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers’ (NUPL) Edre Olalia, who was among those who handled the cases of the leftist leaders, said the junking of the lawsuit is a “vindication of truth.”

“Junking of harassment suits vs Satur, Ka Paeng, Teddy and Liza is vindication of truth, effectiveness of people’s lawyering, testament to strength of mass movement and victory of broad solidarity campaign. Atty. Topacio and his gang must duly account for the bounty money they precipitately dangled out of dubious designs,” the lawyer said. /ee