Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday, Aug. 11, that policemen involved should explain why they took the remains of slain National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Randy Echanis.
“Ordinarily it’s the family of the deceased who should determine the funeral arrangements, but here there seems to be a question as to the identity of the deceased,” said Guevarra.
“Nonetheless, the police should explain why it was necessary to transfer the body from one funeral parlor to another,” the secretary pointed out.
Erlinda, the wife of Echanis, has already issued a statement that condemned the Quezon City Police District’s (QCPD) La Loma Police Station for its “persistent harassment” and the “snatching” of her husband’s remains.
The 72-year-old NDFP peace consultant was killed along with another person identified as Louie Tagapia, 48, inside their rented home in Barangay Nova Proper in Novaliches, Quezon City last Monday, Aug. 10.
Erlinda has already identified the remains as that of her husband, however, the QCPD identified Echanis in its report as Manuel Santiago, based on an identification card found with him.
To this, Guevarra assured that National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will make the confirmation if the remains are indeed that of Echanis.
“If it turns out that the victim was Echanis himself, and the known circumstances indicate an EJK (extrajudicial killing) case, then the AO 35 task force will be the primary investigator,” said Guevarra, who is the chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Judicial Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right of Life, Liberty and Security of Persons.
The inter-agency committee was formed back in 2012 pursuant to Administrative Order (AO) 35 issued by then President Benigno Aquino III.
While waiting for confirmation from the NBI, Guevarra has already ordered the OA 35 task force to create an investigative team which is usually composed of prosecutors and investigators either from the NBI or the Philippine National Police (PNP) or both.
“We can’t stop the PNP if they want to investigate on their own,” the secretary admitted.
“But the task force, or the NBI, can do their own parallel investigation,” he assured.