Police eyeing all angles on reported killing of Randy Echanis

Quezon City police are looking into all angles to determine the motive behind the killing of two men, reportedly including peasant leader Randall Echanis, in Novaliches this week, a police official said Wednesday.

Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said police investigators have not yet ruled out personal motive or robbery angles. 

But he said the robbery angle may possibly be ruled out because there have been no reports of lost items so far.

"All possibilities are still open until ma-narrow din nila talaga 'yung possible motive of the crime," Banac said at a virtual news forum.

Anakpawis Party-list has claimed that Echanis, a longtime peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and a neighbor were killed in a rented house in Novaliches on Monday.

Echanis' wife, Erlinda, has also identified the body.

However, police claimed that Echanis was not among the two victims of the "stabbing incident," citing ID cards found in the premises. Police said the victims were Manuel Santiago and Louie Tagapia.

Erlinda also alleged that police officers forcibly took the remains from one funeral parlor and brought it to another, which the family's lawyer said was the police's "favorite funeral parlor."

Banac said the Quezon City Police District is handling the case.

He said identification issues need to be settled before the body could be released. He said the PNP would be in a difficult position in a scenario where one family would be claiming a body that has already been released to another.

"Once na ma-settle na ito ay kaagad naman na ito ay iri-release na sa pamilya," he said.

He expressed confidence in the QCPD's investigation.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered a separate investigation into the case but said they will wait for confirmation of the victim's identity. —KBK, GMA News