‘Arrest order vs ex-party-list solons won’t affect peace talks’

The arrest order against four former party-list lawmakers accused of murder would not affect the peace process with communist rebels, the government’s chief negotiator said last week. 

Silvestre Bello III said the arrest order was part of the judicial process. 

“Warrants have been issued for their arrest and not even the President could stop the implementation. They should surrender to the arresting officer,” Bello told media.

“I think there is no impact on the peace talks because the President had nothing to do with the arrest order,” he added. 

A Nueva Ecija court has ordered the arrest of National Anti-Poverty Commission chief Liza Maza, former agrarian reform secretary Rafael Mariano and former Bayan Muna party-list representatives Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño.

Liza and Mariano were former representatives of Gabriela and Anakpawis partylists, respectively.

The four were implicated in the killings of Akbayan supporters Carlito Bayudang, Jimmy Peralta and Danny Felipe in 2001 and 2004.

Militant groups have condemned the arrest orders and accused the administration of political persecution of its critics.