ECHANIS’ REMAINS

NUPL says rule that family has exclusive rights to get body ‘elementary’

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyer - National Capital Region chapter on Wednesday denounced the "malicious imputation of a crime and web of lies" against its officer, Attorney Luz Perez, the legal counsel of the wife of slain National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Randall Echanis.

Police had said Perez was the companion of paralegal Pao Colabres who got arrested after allegedly getting the body found in Novaliches, Quezon City even though they have no permission to do so.

Authorities said Perez had eluded arrest

The group said Perez was just performing her duty as lawyer of Erlinda, Echanis' wife.

"Mrs. Echanis executed a Special Power of Attorney and designated Atty. Perez as her representative to claim the body of her murdered husband and to sign relevant documents to process the release of the cadaver," the NUPL said in a press statement.

"Elementary is the rule that it is the family of the deceased who has the exclusive and primary right to possess the cadaver of their loved ones for purposes of proper burial, to the exclusion of all others," it said.

Further, the NUPL said Perez and Colabres had been in constant communication and coordination with the Quezon City Police District for the release of the remains of Echanis to his family since day one.

"For the QCPD officials to say now that they misrepresented themselves is a downright falsehood. It is a crude canard to all the more claim of evasion of 'arrest' against Atty. Perez," the NUPL said.

"Clearly, no criminal act was and has been committed by Atty. Perez and Mr. Colabres for the police to 'arrest' them in first place," the group added.

The NUPL then reminded the police that as lawyers, they have a sworn professional duty to the people to represent and protect their legitimate interests, causes and concerns.

Progressive group Anakpawis had said Echanis, 72, and an unidentified neighbor were killed on August 10. However, cops maintained that the bodies found in a rented house were that of one Manuel Santiago and a certain Louie Tagapia.

This was despite Erlinda identifying the body found was that of her husband.

Police insisted there must be solid evidence to prove the body was that of Echanis. They said DNA testing could be done.

So far, the QCPD said no family of Manuel Santiago, or that of Randall Echanis, has gone to the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit to provide a statement. — RSJ, GMA News