Police to implement arrest warrants vs Maza, three others

July 27, 2018

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region police director, said they will implement arrest warrants against an official of the Duterte administration and former party-list lawmakers facing murder charges before a court in Nueva Ecija.

“We will implement it once we obtain copies of the warrants,” Eleazar told reporters in a news forum in Quezon City.

Palayan Regional Trial Court Branch 40 Judge Evelyen Atienza-Turla issued the warrants of arrest last July 11 against National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza,  former Agrarian Reform head Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis.former Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casino, ex Gabriela party-list congresswoman.

Eleazar said they have yet to implement the law. “Whether they are rich, influential or local government officials, we treat them equally,” he said.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace will continue to respect the independence  of the courts. "The matter is still with the Regional Trual Court," he said.

In a statement, Maza said she "will seek legal remedies available to me and take all the necessary precautions to protect myself from this baseless and malicious charge."

Rachel Pastores, managing counsel of the Public Interest Law Center, said the "trumped-up murder charges.. have lost substantive ground because of court findings of sale statements and bad faith of the complainants and witnesses, over the past 12 years." DMS