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Task force to assess whether deaths in Calabarzon raids covered by AO 35 mechanism — DOJ exec
By VIRGIL LOPEZ,GMA NewsThe body tasked to prosecute politically motivated killings will determine this week whether to launch a deeper investigation into the police operations that led to the deaths of nine activists on Sunday.
Speaking at a Palace news conference on Tuesday, Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said the inter-agency committee is conducting a vetting process to determine if the incidents fall under its jurisdiction.
Otherwise, the matter will be referred to the law enforcement agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP) for a “regular investigation,” he said.
“Titignan po muna kung itong mga nasawi ay miyembro ng cause-oriented groups and are engaged primarily in legitimate dissent or opposition,” Sugay said. “Probably po within 24 to 48 hours magkakaroon po kami ng initial assessment.”
The ongoing probe into the killing of activist Zara Alvarez
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Under the AO 35 mechanism, prosecutors will lead a team of investigators from law enforcement agencies to conduct the probe.
“Ano ba nangyari talaga diyan? How were these search warrants being implemented, which we understand the search warrants were regularly applied for and issued naman by the Regional Trial Courts concerned. It’s one of the things we will look into,” Sugay said.
The PNP has insisted that the operations last Sunday against suspected communist rebels in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal were legitimate and covered by search warrants.
The progressive Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, however, said those arrested and killed were “legal activists” and not suspected communist rebels as claimed by authorities.
Human rights group Karapatan called the police raids, which also resulted in the arrest of six persons, a “war crime.” — RSJ, GMA News