Rizal police chief denies cops blocking release of 'bloody Sunday' cadavers

The chief of Rizal police on Thursday denied that they are blocking the release of the bodies of the four of the nine individuals killed during police operations during the weekend.

"Actually, for release na po 'yun (the bodies are already scheduled for release)," Rizal police chief Police Colonel Joseph Arguelles told GMA News Online.

"Iniintay lang po namin 'yung tulong na galing sa Municipal Social Welfare and Development ng munisipyo po ng Tanay," he added.

(We are just waiting for the aid from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development of Tanay.)

Arguelles said the bodies would be released within the day.

“Wala naman pong magiging problema. Sila lang po ang nagpapalaki at ina-agitate nila 'yung mga tao sa mga isyu na pinagsasabi po nila,” he said, referring to human rights group Karapatan, which made the accusation against the police.

(There is not going to be any problem. They are the ones making a big fuss and agitating the people with the issues they’re raising.)

According to Bam Alegre's report on Unang Balita on Thursday, the four remains are still being held at a mortuary in Antipolo, Rizal.

Karapatan said the bodies of Melvin Dasigao, Mark Lee Bacasno, Randy Dela Cruz, and Puroy Dela Cruz were being held upon orders by the police.

The report said the families of the four spent the night outside the mortuary after they were prevented from bringing home their loved ones’ remains.

Nine people were killed and six others were arrested in simultaneous police operations on Sunday that have been roundly condemned by human rights groups.

Police claimed that the nine slain individuals had communist links but militant group Bayan said the fatalities were legal activists.

The PNP dared relatives of the slain individuals to file a case against law enforcers amid claims of summary execution. --KBK, GMA News