ADMU faculty calls for ‘Bloody Sunday’ probe, gov't forces to honor mandate

Faculty members of the Ateneo de Manila University called for an investigation and for justice to be served following the "Bloody Sunday" law enforcement operations that left nine activists dead.

In a joint statement dated March 13, 2021, community members of the ADMU called on government security forces not to be used for extrajudicial killings which target the poorest and vulnerable across the country.

"We challenge our security forces to remain faithful to their sworn mandate, that which they are willing to lay down their lives for: to serve and protect the Filipino people," the statement read. It had 229 signatories as of Sunday afternoon.

"We challenge the government to investigate and penalize those who are exploiting their positions and uniforms to advance narrow interests," it added.

"And we call on our people to be more politically engaged to ensure that the government uses its power to safeguard human dignity, uplift the poor, and promote the common good," the joint statement read.

The raids came just two days after President Rodrigo Duterte instructed government troops to "shoot and kill right away" communist rebels in an armed fight, and even told the military to "ignore human rights."

The Philippine National Police (PNP), which has led the Duterte administration's bloody campaign against illegal drugs, has repeatedly claimed that the operations were legitimate and those killed fired at cops.

The remains of several of the slain activists were previously held at the Antipolo Memorial Homes and took days before they were released to the families, which rights group Karapatan said was on orders of the police.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., who previously served as a human rights lawyer before he transitioned to the government, defended Duterte's kill order. He said this is in accordance with International Human Rights Law which allows security forces to kill when their lives are placed in danger.

The United Nations already expressed concern over the matter, as it said it was "appalled" by the apparent arbitrary killings of the activists by security forces targeting alleged communist insurgents. — DVM, GMA News