‘Surrender and face the charges’ – Roque

Malacañang has called on National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) lead convenor Liza Maza and three other former congressmen to surrender to authorities and face the criminal complaint filed in court.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque maintained that the arrest warrants were lawfully issued by a trial court in Nueva Ecija against the concerned individuals.

“If they are innocent, they should in fact surrender, recognize the jurisdiction of the court and prove their innocence in court. That’s what we expect from everyone,” Roque said during a Palace press briefing.

A Nueva Ecija court recently issued arrest warrants against Maza and former party-list congressmen Satur Ocampo, Rafael Mariano and Teddy Casiño in connection with a murder complaint in 2006. They have denied the charges.

Maza is still NAPC head Meanwhile, Roque maintained that Maza, a former representative of Gabriela Women’s party, stays as NAPC head for now but urged her to respect the rule of law.

She noted that Maza would become a fugitive of the law if she ignores the arrest warrant.

"She has not been fired but because she’s wanted she might become a fugitive if she does not surrender,” he said.

"If she goes on AWOL or absence without leave, then the President will have to decide on her continuing appointment if need be because she cannot be absent. Her office is very critical to the fight against poverty. We cannot have a secretary who is a fugitive of the law,” he said.

Roque also asserted that the President could not interfere in the judicial process involving Maza. He said the President expects Cabinet members to adhere to the rule of law.

Roque admitted that he has not seen Maza in recent Cabinet meetings. He was unaware though if Maza was still invited to the Cabinet assemblies. ‘We don’t issue warrants’ Roque also denied that the government was allegedly persecuting the former party-list lawmakers, insisting it was the court that issued the arrest warrant.

“We don’t have the power to issue warrants of arrests,” he said.

Coalition’s statement

In a related development, the Department of Justice (DOJ) was urged yesterday to drop the murder charges against four party-list representatives now pending before the Palayan City regional trial court (RTC) in Nueva Ecija.

The appeal was made by the group Coalition for the Defense and Freedom of Rafael Baylosis whose members trooped to the DOJ yesterday to protest the warrants of arrests.

“The filing of trumped up nonbailable charges against progressive leaders, organizers and activists is clearly political persecution against the government’s perceived enemies,” the Coalition said in a statement.

“These are meant to neutralize the activities and effectiveness of outstanding activists fully committed to serving the interests of the Filipino people, who have long suffered inequality and oppression in our society. These are meant to quell the growing unrest among the people,” the coalition said in a statement.

Cases Palayan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 40 Judge Evelyn Atienza-Turla issued the arrest warrants last July 11 in connection for the three counts of murder they have been charged with.

The case which was filed in 2006 before the Palayan City RTC stemmed from allegations that they were involved in the killings of farmers Danilo Felipe, Carlito Bayudang and Jimmy Peralta in 2001 and 2004, respectively. (With a report from Jeffrey Damicog)