Nueva Ecija court junks case vs Makabayan 4

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- – The Palayan City Regional Trial Court has dismissed the murder case filed against former Makabayan lawmakers for insufficient evidence.

In a decision made public August 13, the court also quashed the arrest warrant issued against former Bayan Muna Party-List Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casino, former Anak Pawis Party-List Representative Rafael Mariano and former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza who currently sits as the National Anti-Poverty Commission Chief.

Acting Presiding Judge Trese Wenceslao, in a resolution dated August 8, said the evidence presented failed to establish probable cause against the accused.

Wenceslao took over the case after Branch 40 Judge Evelyn Atienza-Turla inhibited from it citing pressure.

Atienza-Turla was the one who issued the warrants of arrest.

The camps of the said former lawmakers welcomed the dismissal of the case, which they described as trumped up.

The dismissal of the case means that the warrants of arrest issued against the four leftist leaders on July 11 are now revoked.