Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 14)— Seventeen police personnel are facing a murder complaint over the deaths of two more victims of the “Bloody Sunday” raids last year.
In a statement on Friday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed the complaint against officers linked to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Calabarzon.
The case covered the killings of Ariel and Ana Mariz Evangelista in Batangas. The two were part of fisherfolk group UMALPAS-KA.
In its six-page complaint made public on Saturday, the NBI found that the police officers who carried out the operation had a “deliberate intent to kill.”
The DOJ said it will now conduct a preliminary probe on the case, “with all due consideration to the families of the victims and the constitutional rights of the alleged perpetrators.”
“There is zero tolerance for impunity in the ranks of Philippine law enforcement agencies, and these mechanisms are in place for the maintenance of an environment free from threats to anyone’s life, liberty, and personal security,” it added.
The Evangelistas were among the nine activists killed in simultaneous police operations in Calabarzon provinces in March 2021 — a case that sparked outrage among human rights advocates.
In December, the DOJ also said 17 policemen were slapped with a murder complaint for the death of labor leader Emmanuel Asuncion.
Human rights group Karapatan welcomed the development, but made a fresh call to authorities.
“We urge the (task force) to include in their investigations the culpability of officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and former PNP Chief Debold Sinas,” Karapatan said. “Judges who issued the questionable search warrants and regional and provincial level police and military officials should likewise be held accountable.”
PNP: Cops to cooperate in probe
The PNP vowed all officers tagged in the case will be available once the investigation starts.
“At any rate, the PNP respects the legal action of NBI in bringing the case up for prosecution before the DOJ,” PNP chief Dionardo Carlos said. “This will allow the respondents the opportunity to face their accusers and present their side in the best interest of due process.”
Carlos maintained that the police operation in Batangas was legitimate, citing a search warrant. However, he added that the PNP would also look into the administrative liability of the concerned personnel.
