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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ orders NBI to confirm identity of body said to be Echanis

DOJ orders NBI to confirm identity of body said to be Echanis

Published Aug 11, 2020 01:10 pm

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been asked to confirm that the person who was killed in Quezon City on Monday was National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Randy Echanis.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)

“I will refer the question of identity re Echanis to the NBI forensic investigation division,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

Guevarra made the move following reports that the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that the person killed was a certain Manuel Santiago based on the identification card found in him.

“Considering questions about the identity of the victim, a thorough forensic examination may be necessary for the purpose,” said Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete.

“We leave it to experts to complete this identification,” he added.

Once his identity is verified, the Administrative Order (AO) 35 Task Force, which investigates, among others, summary killings of persons on account of their advocacies, will proceed with the investigation.

Guevarra, 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, has already directed the task force to form a team that will investigate the killing.

The inter-agency committee was formed back in 2012 pursuant to AO 35 issued by then President Benigno Aquino III.

Perete assured that the AO 35 Secretariat is “nevertheless preparing to investigate and determine the possible inclusion of the case under our mechanism.”

Meanwhile, the family has already declared that the person killed was Echanis.

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.

Police said five unidentified individuals were behind the killings.

Echanis, who was a long-time NDPF consultant and a member of the NDFP Reciprocal Working Committee on Socio-Economic Reforms, was involved in the peace talks with the Duterte administration from 2016 to 2017.

He was also the deputy secretary general of militant peasant organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Anakpawis nominee in the 2010 elections.

Read more: NDFP peace consultant Randy Echanis killed in QC

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