Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Wednesday afternoon, March 31, said the March 28 death of trade unionist Dandy Miguel will be investigated by the inter-agency committee on extra-judicial killings (EJKs).
(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Although the motive for his killing may not be clear as at this time, considering that Miguel was an active trade union leader and that the method of attack showed a deliberate intent to kill, the AO 35 technical working group has recommended the creation of a special investigating team (SIT) under the aegis of the AO 35 committee to conduct a more thorough probe of the incident and establish the identity of the perpetrators,” Guevarra said.
He said the SIT “is headed by a Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor who will lead the case build-up, and the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) is definitely a part of the team.”
“And the SIT may collaborate with the CHR (Commission on Human Rights), if necessary,” he added.
The inter-agency committee was created in 2012 under Administrative Order No. 35 (AO 35) issued by then President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III to investigate extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave violations of the right of life, liberty and security of persons.
At the time of his death, Miguel was the vice chairperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno’s Pagkakaisa ng Mangagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU). He was gunned down at around 8:45 p.m. last March 28 by an unidentified gunman riding a motorcycle in Barangay Canlubang in Calamba, Laguna.
His death occurred three weeks after the March 7 joint police and military operations conducted in Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Batangas against persons with suspected links with communist terrorists.
The operations resulted in the deaths of nine persons and the arrest of six others. The AO35 inter-agency committee has started its investigation into the killings.
Last March 29, a labor coalition asked the AO 35 committee to investigate Miguel’s death.
The Nagkakaisa Labor Coalition said there are now over 50 trade unionists who have been gunned down since the start of the administration of President Duterte.
“We remind the authorities of its responsibility to investigate, prosecute and convict the authors of these atrocities,” it said.
Also, last March 29, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) decried the killing of Miguel as it lamented that his death occurred at the time the country is observing the start of Holy Week.
"The CHR is one with labor rights groups in decrying this latest spate of violence against rights defenders," CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.
"As we have repeatedly asked, the escalating situation of violence and harassment against union leaders and activists calls for urgent action and tangible measures," she said.
The CHR called on concerned agencies such as Congress, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to prioritize investigations on the killings of union leaders and activists and find out why there is a prevalent disregard to the right to life, security, and rule of law.
It also called on the government to uphold and protect the dignity and right to life of all individuals, and give justice to those who have suffered from human rights injustices.