DOJ chief 'frustrated' over deadly Calabarzon police ops but hits back at critics

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday hit back at critics of the government body tasked to investigate attacks on advocates and members of cause-oriented groups, but admitted being frustrated by the deadly police operation in different areas in Calabarzon over the weekend.

The Inter Agency Task Force - created under Administrative Order 35 to probe extrajudicial killings, tortures, enforced disappearances and other violations against these groups - had been criticized for having a low conviction rate.

“Hindi inaabsuwelto dahil hindi naman kami ang court. Ang nangyayari diyan, hindi nape-pursue dahil wala ngang mga witnesses,” Guevarra told GMA News.

“Yung mga nagci-criticize sa AO35 na wala naman nangyayari, ibabalik ko lang sa kanila yung comment. Kung kasi kayo, kung nakikipagtulungan sa amin, di merong resulta na makukuha tayo. Kasi yung iba, criticize lang nang criticize, hindi tumutulong para yung ebidensiya ay maiprisinta sa AO35,” Guevarra added.

The Justice secretary said witnesses may go either to the Department of Justice prosecution office nearest them or to the Commission on Human Rights to share what they know or file a complaint.

He said witnesses may be given protection.

Guevarra earlier said the task force will investigate the bloody service of search warrants in Laguna, Rizal, and Batangas on Sunday if it is found that the victims were members of cause-oriented groups.

If the police operation was legitimate, Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation will be tasked to investigate the incidents.

“Ang issue kasi ay bakit dumating pa sa point na nagkaroon ng deaths arising from the mere service of search warrant. So is this a case na lumaban kasi yung mga tao na sine-serve-an ng search warrant or you know, as some would say, hindi, talagang may purpose na i-liquidate yang mga yan?” Guevarra said.

“Yung sasabihin mo na lumaban yung pinagse-serve-an mo ng search warrant, medyo mag-iisip ka kung paano nangyari yon. Tsaka nagse-serve lang ng search warrant, di naman inaaresto so bakit papalag?” he added.

Guevarra also said they will secure copies of the warrants served to see what these were for and if these were valid.

Despite the bloody incidents over the weekend, Guevarra maintains the situation is still not alarming.

“Hindi naman siya napakarami na nakaka-alarm pero parang naka-concentrate siya sa isang particular area at parang in a short interval of time. So yun ang parang somehow nagbibigay ng parang controversial aspect doon sa situation. Hindi naman alarming kasi hindi naman nanyayari yan all over the country. Doon lang sa mga matatawag nating hotspots. Pero nonetheless dahil may mga namamatay under circumstances na hindi malinaw kaya siyempre nakakaalarma rin yan sa ibang tao,” Guevarra said.

He also assured the public that there will be no cover-up in the investigation.

“Ang mahalaga diyan ay ginagawa naman ang appropriate investigation. Wala namang magco-cover-up niyan. At yan naman ay puwedeng imbestigahan ng independent and impartial bodies,” Guevarra stressed.

The bloody incidents happened just weeks after Guevarra reported to the United Nations Human Rights Commission about breaches in protocols in anti-drugs operations.

“Medyo nadi-disappoint ako kasi puwede naman gawin ang law enforcement sa isang paraan na hindi na kailangan kumitil ng buhay. Kung talagang sila naman, nalalagay ang kanilang personal safety sa danger at at risk yung ginagawa nila, they have the right to defend themselves. Pero yung parang to use unnecessary force kung hindi naman in danger ang iyong personal safety, parang hindi tama yon. To that extent, doon ako nafu-frustrate,” Guevarra said.

But he clarified that the President’s pronouncements to go after communist rebels had nothing to do with the incidents.

“Armed groups like the NPA, yun ang tinutukoy niya roon, na masasabing talagang enemies of the state. Yun ang context ng sinabi ng presidente. Hindi naman ang sinabi ng presidente eh mga activist group, na mga cause oriented groups na may mga advocacies,” Guevarra said.

The DOJ is expected to release soon its findings if the bloody incidents are covered by the AO35 task force or not. -MDM, GMA News