Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra has asked the families of nine activists who died last March 7 during the joint police and military operations in Southern Luzon provinces to trust the ongoing investigation by the government.
(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO)
Guevarra met with the families last Wednesday, April 21, at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The families of some of those who died had requested a dialogue with Guevarra. Also present during the meeting was the wife of labor leader Dandy Miguel who was shot by a lone assailant in Calamba, Laguna last March 28.
The deaths of the nine activists and that of Miguel’s are now being investigated by the DOJ-led inter-agency committee on extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty, and security of persons.
Guevarra said he assured the victims' families that “all reasonable efforts shall be exerted to find out the truth” and asked them “to trust the integrity of the AO 35 mechanism and its capability to dispense justice.”
He recounted that “they expressed their deep sorrow over the violent death of their loved ones and their hope that justice would be done.”
After explaining how the investigation would proceed, Guevarra told the families that “much would depend on the willingness to cooperate of all parties concerned.”