Lorenzana tells 'adversaries': Wait for results of probe on activist deaths

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday asked human rights advocates and those he called "adversaries" (kalaban) to wait for the results of the investigation on the slay of at least nine activists, and arrest of six others in Calabarzon police operations before  making condemnations.

"Let's wait for the results of the investigation that will be done by the National Bureau of Investigation to ensure impartiality," he said in Filipino at the Laging Handa public briefing, adding that the Armed Forces and the PNP will stay away from the probe.

He noted that even before a formal investigation could commence, human rights advocates have already reported their account of the Calabarzon raids to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

He even took a dig on a news headline that goes: "UN body was appalled by arbitrary killing of activists."

"Siguro hintayin muna natin 'yung imbestigasyon dito sa atin bago natin isuplong, (Let us wait for our own investigation before we begin to take the matter to the international platform)," he added.

He also voiced suspicions that government adversaries ("yung kalaban natin"), are trying to preempt the investigation in their effort "to paint us to be in the wrong." 

"Let us wait first, let us settle down and wait for the result of the investigation,"  he pointed out.

Lorenzana acknowledged there were Armed Forces personnel involved in the operations. But he insisted that police authorities had search warrants.

Moreover, Lorenzana said explosives, IEDs [improvised explosive devices], and grenades were recovered from the possession of alleged communist insurgents during the raids.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government will investigate the killing of activists, with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra leading the probe.

According to the police, the operations were covered by court-issued search warrants, insisting that those killed resisted arrest.

Groups like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the victims were "legal activists" and said the killings were related to President Duterte's order against communist rebels.

Earlier police reports indicated that six of the fatalities were reported during the raid in Rizal province, two in Batangas, and  one in Cavite.

Also, six were arrested during simultaneous police operations in Calabarzon last Sunday that activists now call "Bloody Sunday."

On the other hand, some senators are urging the Commission on Human Rights to do its own investigation on the incident. —LBG, GMA News