The Philippine National Police (PNP) believes there were no "lapses or violations" committed when its men in Quezon City took the cadaver of peace consultant Randy Echanis from a funeral parlor.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said operatives from the QC Police District just made sure they establish the identity of the body in accordance to procedure, particularly with Echanis being identified initially as Manuel Santiago.

“We had to be very careful in handling the case because this involves identification of a person. As you know in criminal investigation and legal proceedings, it is important to properly identify a person, especially a dead body based on rules of evidence," explained Banac.

Despite being identified by his wife, the police had to be sure of the real identity of the deceased, hence their procurement of Echanis' body.

He added the body as eventually released after its identity was established during fingerprinting.

“We don't see any lapses or violations on the part of the investigating body," said Banac.

"As always whenever there is an investigation ongoing, we always give them the presumption of regularity. We allow them to perform their task without us meddling.”

“So we think they have done their job well to establish the identity of the person very clearly and surely and after having it identified properly through fingerprint analysis that's they came to that conclusion. That Mauel Santiago and Randall Echanis are one and the same person,” he added.

The death of Echanis raised questions with relatives and supporters saying it is part of the government's attempt to run after critics.

The 72-year old Echanis, chairperson of militant group Anakpawis, had dedicated most of his life advocating for the rights of the poor, especially farmers who are fighting for land ownership.

Early morning on Monday, unidentified men stormed his rented apartment in Novaliches in Quezon City and stabbed him dead along with another person.

Banac said investigators are looking at two angles behind the death of Echanis.

One, that he was killed for being a potential witness in the death of the actual target -- his companion.

Second, that he may have drawn the ire of another person.

“We are also looking at robbery as a third angle. So all of these things are being looked into by the investigation unit of the QCPD. As of now, the investigators are still looking for identities and gathering information including CCTVs in the area that might have captured pictures of suspects,” said Banac.