Farmers’ party-list accuses cops of abducting, trying to assassinate nominee

MAGSASAKA Party-list has accused some personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) of abducting and trying to assassinate its nominee Lejun Dela Cruz in Cainta, Rizal on Sunday.

“In a brazen and alarming display of political violence, elements of the PNP attempted but failed to assassinate MAGSASAKA Party-list nominee Lejun Dela Cruz (Sunday),” the party-list said in a statement.

“Instead, Dela Cruz was illegally abducted, aggressively beaten, and is now being held in police custody under questionable circumstances,” it added.

MAGSASAKA Party-list general secretary and legal counsel Atty. General Du said Dela Cruz was on his way home when a man approached and asked him about real estate.

“Noticing a bulge at the man's waist—suggesting he was armed—Dela Cruz became suspicious. His suspicions deepened when two motorcycle-riding men stopped nearby, also appearing to be armed," the party-list said.

“Sensing imminent danger, Dela Cruz started his vehicle—only to be met with a hail of gunfire from the unidentified gunmen,” it added.

According to the party-list, Dela Cruz attempted to escape but he was cornered at a dead-end in Baragay Manggahan in Pasig City.

The armed men identified themselves as members of Marikina City Police, the party-list said.

They allegedly placed Dela Cruz in handcuffs and subjected him to severe physical assault. Du said the cops allegedly discussed whether to turn Dela Cruz over to the police station or “kill him on the spot.”

The police officers presented a supposed arrest warrant dated 1992 long after they had already fired upon and chased Dela Cruz, the party-list said. The warrant was never shown to him before the attempted assassination and was only produced after he had been subdued, according to the party-list.

After three hours, Dela Cruz was brought to the police station. Magsasaka Party-list representatives arrived to intervene but “they were met with further aggression, as officers reportedly pointed their firearms at them, threatening and preventing them from accompanying Dela Cruz,” it said.

GMA News Online sought comment from the PNP and Marikina City Police Station about the allegations of MAGSASAKA Party-list but they have yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

The party-list condemned the incident and called for an investigation.

“This violent attack is not only a direct assault on one of our nominees but also a grave threat to democracy and the rights of all political activists and marginalized sectors who seek to participate in the democratic process,” it said.

“We demand immediate accountability for the officers involved in this ambush and a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this assassination attempt,” it added.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News

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