Maza urges Comelec to junk disqualification case

MANILA, Philippines – Senatorial aspirant Representative Liza Maza of the Gabriela Women’s Party on Monday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to junk the disqualification case filed against her by a former rebel saying that the petition is “baseless.”

“The instant petition is clearly and utterly baseless and therefore serves no other purpose than to harass me and waste the valuable time of the Comelec. Apart from the mere citation of the applicable provision of the law on disqualifications, the petition actually cites no ground upon which disqualification must be based, hence, the petition must be dismissed,” Maza said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Maza belied the allegations saying there are no credible evidence to substantiate the group’s claims, adding that the petitioner, identified as a certain Genesis F. Castillo of Oriental Mindoro who is also a self-confessed former NPA rebel, only has a sworn statement to back up his claims.

“The petitioner’s sworn statement and the storyline therein contained appears to be no different from stories of false witnesses against me and my colleagues in cases that have been dismissed by courts of law and by no less than the Supreme Court in one instance--- that which became to be known as the Batasan 6 case---which the Supreme Court considered as a politically motivated case,” Maza said.

“All the fabricated charges, false and malicious lies and endless red-baiting since 2001 are part of the whole government choreography to continue discrediting us and to keep us from taking seats in Congress. Now that I am vying for a Senatorial seat, it is not surprising that they are more aggressive and desperate in trying to disqualify me and other progressive candidates like Satur Ocampo,” Maza stressed.

Also facing similar disqualification charges in the Comelec is Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo.

The disqualification charges were heard at the Comelec Tuesday afternoon.

Krestoric Magbanua of the People’s Advocacy for Collaboration and Empowerment (Peace), by a group claiming to be former rebels turned peace advocates, filed the disqualification case against Maza and fellow Senatorial aspirant Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo on November 1.

The group Peace alleged that Maza and Ocampo are unfit to become Senators since they coddle members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.
Maza and Ocampo are running for Senators for the 2010 elections under the Makabayan coalition and as guest candidates for Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party.