PNP dares kin of 'bloody Sunday' fatalities to file case vs. police

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday dared families of the nine people killed during the March 7 operations in Calabarzon to file cases against the police officers amid their claims of summary execution.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana gave the challenge during an interview on Unang Balita, as he maintained that the operations were legitimate.

"Kung meron naman din po silang mga ebidensiya (if they have evidence) we are more than willing to accommodate them, they can file actions against our police officers," he said.

Usana said the PNP will investigate such complaints as it does not condone illegal actions committed by its personnel.

Families of the nine fatalities have belied the police's version that the victims fought it out with police officers during the serving of search warrants.

The police have linked the nine slain individuals to communist rebels, but militant organization Bayan said they were "legal activists."

No less than Vice President Leni Robredo has described the incident as a "massacre." Various local and international human rights groups have also condemned the killings.

Usana said they have evidence that the operations were done in accordance with the law as they were conducted "on the basis of judicial order."

"Hindi ito isang bagay na kukunin mo lang over the counter. Mahigpit po ang mga court pagdating po sa pag-issue ng search warrant," he said.

(Search warrants are something you can't just get over the counter. The courts are very strict in issuing them.)

Asked regarding statements condemning the operations, Usana pointed out that no one issued a similar statement when four policemen were brutally killed by New People's Army rebels in Negros Oriental in July 2019.

"Wala po kaming narinig na pagkondena mula sa mga grupong ito (we didn't hear any group condemning the incident)," he said.

Malacañang said an investigation on the deaths of the nine individuals will be conducted by the government to be led by the Department of Justice.

The European Union on Wednesday night welcomed the Philippine government's announcement of an investigation as it recalled the country's commitment before the United Nations Human Rights Council "to ensure accountability for human rights violations and abuses." 

As of March 11,  human rights group Karapatan said the remains of four of the nine fatalities were still being held at an Antipolo mortuary on the orders of police.

GMA News Online has also sought the PNP for comment but it has yet to respond as of posting time.  --KBK, GMA News