MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, July 31, urged National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Liza Maza and three other left-leaning former lawmakers to surrender and prove their innocence.
Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. called on Maza and other former lawmakers Rafael Mariano, Satur Ocampo, and Teodoro Casiño to heed the arrest orders against them.
"Well, syempre po, 'yung mga warrants of arrest naman pong iyan, iyan ay lawfully issued by a trial court -- if I'm not mistaken -- in Nueva Ecija," Roque said.
(Well, of course, those warrants of arrest are lawfully-issued by a trial court -- if I'm not mistaken -- in Nueva Ecija.)
"So if they're innocent, then they should in fact surrender, recognize the jurisdiction of the court, and prove their innocence in court. That's what we expect from everyone," he added.
Judge Evelyn Turla of Nueva Ecija, Palayan City Regional Trial Court Branch 40 issued arrest warrants against Maza, Mariano, Ocampo, and Casiño over their alleged involvement in the abduction-killing of Danilo Felipe, Jimmy Peralta, and Carlito Bayudang in 2001, 2003, and 2004, respectively.
Felipe, Peralta, and Bayudang were alleged supporters of rival party-list Akbayan.
Maza, the incumbent NAPC head, is a former Gabriela party-list representative, while Mariano served as former Anakpawis party-list representative and former Agrarian Reform Secretary.
Ocampo and Casiño, on the other hand, are former Bayan Muna party-list representatives.
Makabayan lawmakers have claimed that the warrants of arrest against the four former lawmakers were the Duterte government's apparent "attacks against the opposition."
Roque, however, denied that the Palace had a hand in the order to arrest Maza, Mariano, Ocampo, and Casiño.
"Absolutely, [Palace had no hand in it]. It's in court. It's been in court. And it's a warrant of arrest issued by the court, not by the executive branch. We don't have powers to issue warrants of arrest," he said.
"The task of the executive is in fact to implement the laws. If there are warrants of arrest, it is the task of the executive, through our law enforcement agencies, to make sure that these warrants of arrest, are properly served," he added.
Following the Nueva Ecija court's ruling, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation would help enforce the arrest orders.
Roque said Maza, as an incumbent member of the Cabinet, should adhere to the rule of law.
"She has to report, surrender physically to the Regional Trial Court because there's a warrant of arrest. Well, she has to heed the warrant of arrest. Not even the President can interfere in our judicial process," he said.
"Cabinet members must live by way of example that they adhere to the rule of law. Siguro naman po hindi siya madedehado because she's a member of the Cabinet," he added.
(Cabinet members must live by way of example that they adhere to the rule of law. Perhaps, she will not be at a disadvantage because she's a member of the Cabinet.)
For now, Roque said Duterte still trusts Maza "unless the President fires her."
Asked if Palace is willing to give her legal assistance, Roque said: "Well, she has not asked for assistance. And of course, this is a legal problem so this is something that she has to decide for herself." (SunStar Philippines)