NAPC labor sector to Duterte: Ensure safety of Maza, co-accused

The National Anti-Poverty Commission's (NAPC) labor sector on Tuesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to ensure the safety of NAPC lead convenor Liza Maza and others facing arrest in connection with a 12-year-old murder case.

"While this administration view this as a matter of legal issue, we however cannot help but to doubt the motive and the timing of the 'resurrected' murder charges against these human right defenders and genuine agrarian reform advocates," the NAPC formal labor and migrant workers sector said in a statement, adding the "trumped up" charges should be dismissed.

"We are concerned about the safety of Secretary Maza in the midst of continuing threats against her life and we call on President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to guarantee the safety of Secretary Maza and her co-accused."

The Palace has said the government had no hand in the arrest order against Maza and her co-accused.

The NAPC labor sector also said Maza's legal battle will have an impact on the continuity of the anti-poverty programs of the government.

"NAPC under the leadership of Secretary Maza is pursuing transformation of the Commission culminating in the proposed anti-poverty framework that will be championed by the Filipino poor through broad participation of the basic sectors," it said.

"Needless to state, this legal challenge will impact on the continuance of policy reforms and programs that will help in eradicating the vicious cycle of poverty and thwart the gains of the Commission for reforms that could benefit the majority poor."

Maza, former Anakpawis Representative and former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, and former Bayan Muna congressmen Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño were indicted in 2006 before the Palayan City Regional Trial Court Branch 40 in Nueva Ecija for the abduction and killing of Danilo Felipe in 2001, Jimmy Peralta in 2003, and Carlito Bayudang in 2004.

Felipe, Peralta, and Bayudang were reportedly supporters of rival Akbayan party-list.

However, Akbayan, in a statement, said it is not a party to the case and that it believes that the former lawmakers were not involved in the crime.

"This is because, upon perusal of the evidence, it was obvious to us that there was no proof that they had in any way ordered the murders. We called for justice for the murdered farmers then and continue to do so now," Akbayan said.

"Akbayan and Makabayan are indeed rivals in the sense that our ideological differences are deep and long-standing, including the acceptance of their colleagues of high-level positions in the Duterte administration which ironically now seeks their arrest," it added.

The four former lawmakers have since appealed to Judge Evelyn Atienza-Turla to recall the arrest warrant and dismiss the case against them.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, however, urged Maza to surrender to the authorities and prove her innocence in court.

Roque also said Maza remains in her post for now. — BM, GMA News