THE National Bureau of Investigation will help in locating and serving arrest warrants issued by a lower court against former party-list representatives Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna, Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis and Liza Maza of Gabriela.
“As a law enforcement agency the NBI will help, in compliance with a warrant duly issued by the court,” said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, referring to the warrants signed by regional trial court Judge Evelyn Atienza-Turla of Palayan City, Nueva Ecija on July 11.
“All warrants of arrest are addressed to all law enforcement officers, including the NBI, commanding them to arrest the person accused wherever the latter may be found,” Guevarra said.
Maza is the incumbent chairperson of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, while Mariano was a former secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Mariano as his first DAR secretary after his election in 2016 but the Commission on Appointment rejected his appointment on Sept. 6, 2017.
Turla reportedly issued the warrant of arrest based on the case filed in 2006 during the time of former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The case stemmed from the complaint filed in 2006 before the Palayan City RTC arising from allegations that the respondents were involved in the killings of farmers Danilo Felipe, Carlito Bayudang and Jimmy Peralta in 2001 and 2004, respectively.