**media**
The government has been urged to file more criminal charges against law enforcers for those killed last March 7 during the joint operations conducted by the police and the military to ferret out suspected communist rebels in Southern Luzon provinces.
The call was aired by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary-General Renato Reyes Jr. after a murder complaint was filed against 17 policemen involved in the March 7 killing of Bayan official Emmanuel “Manny” Asuncion in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
“The Asuncion criminal complaint is the first to be filed, but it shouldn’t be the last,” Reyes said in a statement. He said there were nine activists who were killed by law enforcers during the “Bloody Sunday” raids. “All the nine killed in the police raids were unarmed and were murdered,” he lamented, and “they deserve justice.”
He pointed out: “The service of the warrant and the death of Asuncion in the Workers Assistance Office were all irregular. The search warrant was for his house but it was served at his office where he was staying. The murder was gruesome as Asuncion was unarmed and with his wife and co-worker. All the circumstances point to premeditated murder.”
The Office of the City Prosecutor (OPC) in Dasmarinas City in Cavite has set the preliminary investigation in January on the murder charge filed against 17 policemen for the killing Asuncion.
In a subpoena, the hearing was set on Jan. 11 and 25 next year. Those charged were also ordered to submit their counter-affidavits.
Named respondents in the murder charge were PLT. Elbert M. Santos, PLT. Shay Jed Sapitulla, PSMS Hector R. Cardinales, PMSSG Ariel P. dela Cruz, PSSG, Joemark Sajul, PCPL Ernie A. Ambuyoc, PCCPL Mark John A. Defiesta, PCPL Arjay Garcia, PCPL Caidar Dimacangun, PCPL Bryan Sanchez, PCPL Ericson Lucido, Pat. Jayson Maala, Pat. Juanito Plite, Pat. Jonathan Tatel, Pat. Prince Benjamin Torres, Pat. Jaime Turingan, and Pat. Lopera Rey PJ Dacara.
“No motion to dismiss will be entertained. Only counter-affidavits will be accepted. Failure to submit counter-affidavits is deemed a waiver of the right to present evidence,” the subpoena issued by Investigating Prosecutor Rogelio D. Radoc Jr. stated.
Those charged were also warned that “no postponement will be granted unless on exceptionally meritorious grounds.”
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said the filing of the murder charge was recommended by the special investigating team (SIT) of the Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right of Life, Liberty and Security of Persons.