Palace on Tanauan rubout: Let the axe fall where it may

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Wednesday gave the green light to investigating bodies for them to continue the probe against policemen involved in the alleged summary executions of four suspected robbers in Tanauan City. This came from Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita who said that the Palace would let the axe fall on whoever is responsible for the death of four suspects. "If indeed it was a rubout, let the people (responsible) suffer for their actions but tingnan natin. It's a human right matter, a police matter for that matter, so let's leave it to them," he said. The Commission on Human Rights had earlier said that a preliminary investigation showed that the three of the four suspects killed in the Tanuan incident are victims of a rubout. Asked if Ermita expects justice especially if police officers are proven guilty, he expressed confidence in the Philippine National Police since its chief, Director General Avelino Razon Jr, once headed Task Force Usig which was formed to investigate and solve allegations of extrajudicial killings. "General Razon, as a matter of fact, is much more conscious of that because he used to be the head of Task Force Usig. He doesn't' have to make such pronouncement because we can really assume that General Razon has given his guidelines to his own people," he said. The killing of the four suspects - Pepito Magsino, Romy Lachica, Angelito Malabanan, and Vivencio Javier, all alleged members of the Lucido Javier gang - drew flak after witnesses and evidence gathered by the CHR showed that no shootouts occurred when they were slain. The controversy has also resulted in two government officials - CHR chairperson Leila de Lima and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez - into a 'word war' of sorts. De Lima had criticized the DOJ chief for making statements that embolden uniformed men to participate in killings while Gonzalez countered by saying that de Lima's statements tend to hamper policemen. Gonzalez was earlier quoted as saying to reporters: “This is more than heinous. There should be a shoot-to-kill order against the suspects. I don’t really like what happened. Those were unjustified killings." Asked to comment about Gonzalez' remark, Ermita said the DOJ chief's remark was probably made in "the heat of passion or anger." "That is only the impression of Chairman De Lima pero alam mo naman … nakakapagsalita ka nang ganoon dahil talaga namang karumal-dumal ang kanilang ginawa pero it should not be taken in that context. Nagkataon lamang na siguro, talagang nasa isip ni Secretary Gonzalez, napakasama ng hitsura ng krimen. Maging sa sine, sa TV, walang masyadong nakikitang ganoon," he said. - GMANews.TV