2 Albay activists killed in 'shootout' with cops; Eleazar orders probe

Two activists in Albay province were killed Monday after they allegedly fought back to policemen who caught them painting an antigovernment slogan on a bridge.

Human rights group Defend Bicol identified the fatalities as Jemar Palero, 22, from Organisasyon ng mga Magsasaka sa Albay, and Marlon Naperi, 38, from Albay People's Organization.

The group said policemen shot the victims after they caught them conducting Operation Pinta at Banao Bridge, with the unfinished protest art stating "DUTERTE IBAGS".

It said the incident took place hours after President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his sixth and final State of the Nation Address.

“The unarmed civilians are now being branded as ‘nanlaban’ by police forces, an old narrative of the police being used in tokhang operations,” Defend Bicol said in a statement.

“Dissent may take on many form, but to kill innocent unarmed civilians in the dead of the night for painting the people's call is purely fascist and brutal,” it added.

Police probe

Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar, meanwhile, ordered an investigation into the shooting incident.

In a statement Wednesday, Eleazar directed the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to speed up the probe.

“Inatasan ko na ang IAS sa pamumuno ni Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo na tutukan at pabilisin ang isinasagawang imbestigasyon upang bigyan ng linaw kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari dito,” he said.

(I already instructed the IAS led by Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo to focus on the incident and expedite the probe to clarify what really happened)

He also directed Police Regional Office 5 director Police Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo to place the involved cops under restrictive custody .

Citing police reports, Eleazar said the activists were armed and fired on the cops, prompting the authorities to retaliate.

Rights group Karapatan decried the killing, saying that the incident is evidence of a “bloody state” of the nation under Duterte.

“Allegations of the 'nanlaban' narrative that the victims fought back and they possessed guns are not only ludicrously false,” Karapatan said.

“They are unbelievable tall tales because both unarmed activists and they surely do not bear arms while doing graffiti.” —KBK, GMA News