Over 30 solons denounce issuance of arrest warrant vs ex-Makabayan lawmakers

MANILA, Philippines — Crossing party lines, more than 30 members of the House of Representatives condemned the issuance of warrant of arrest for former Makabayan lawmakers.

House Resolution 2064 was filed Thursday afternoon, bearing the signatures of 33 lawmakers.

They also asked the Palayan Regional Trial Court to reconsider the arrest order against National Anti-Poverty Commission chair Liza Maza (Gabriela party-list), former agrarian reform chief Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis party-list), and former Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño.

The four are being hunted by police for the abduction and killing of three farmers who were reportedly supporters of rival party-list Akbayan more than a decade ago.

The resolution was signed by Makabayan lawmakers Isagani Zarate, Arlene Brosas, France Castro, Emmi De Jesus, Sarah Jane Elago and Antonio Tinio.

The other legislators who signed it were Erlpe John Amante, Isagani Amatong, Michelle Antonio, Rose Marie Arenas, Kit Belmonte, Manuel Jose Dalipe, Raul Daza, Napoleon Dy, Sandra Eriguel, Virgilio Lacson, Edcel Lagman, Raymond Democrito Mendoza, John Marvin Nieto, Pablo Ortega, Jose Panganiban Jr., Enrico Pineda, Michael Romero, Ron Salo, Orestes Salon, Eric Singson, Randolph Ting, Arnel Ty, Rolando Uy, Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso and Alfonso Yap.

Group Citizens’ Crime Watch led by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio offered P250,000 each for any lead on the whereabouts of the former party-list solons.

Malacañang denied the allegation that President Rodrigo Duterte has a hand in the revival of the case, and urged them to surrender to authorities and prove their innocence in court.