Ocampo, Maza ask Comelec to uphold their senatorial bids

Two militant lawmakers on Tuesday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to dismiss separate bids to disqualify them as senatorial candidates in the May elections. Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza scored the attempts to take them out of the electoral contest as political harassment, pointing out that they have long been critics of the Arroyo government. One of the petitions, lodged by a certain Krestoric C. Magbanua last November 1, alleged that Ocampo and his party committed acts of violence in pursuit of electoral victory. "The rehashed allegations of acts of violence and terrorism claimed by petitioner who is a military asset in Southern Tagalog are so pathetically shallow and utterly devoid of logic as to insult the intelligence of the members of this Commission. Thus they should be rejected with dispatch," Ocampo said. Ocampo appeared before the poll body earlier in the day to demand the dismissal of the complaint. The Bayan Muna lawmaker pointed out that the Supreme Court had already ordered the Makati regional trial court to dismiss a rebellion case, which covered alleged "acts of violence and terrorism," against him and other militant lawmakers in June 2007. Maza, who is also facing a disqualification complaint filed by one Genesis F. Castillo, said 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," she said, adding that the petition against her was meant to "harrass" her. Maza also appeared at a Comelec hearing on the petition to disqualify her as a senatorial candidate. Ocampo and Maza are running as guest candidates of Senator Manuel Villar Jr.'s Nacionalista Party. [See: Ocampo, Maza share NP slate with Bongbong Marcos] – Johanna Camille Sisante/JV, GMANews.TV