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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lawyer to DOJ prosecutors: 'My clients did not go to Batangas to kill anybody'

Lawyer to DOJ prosecutors: 'My clients did not go to Batangas to kill anybody'

Published Feb 22, 2022 08:15 pm

Department of Justice

The 17 policemen who were charged with murder before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the alleged killing of a couple did not go to Batangas on March 7, 2021 “to kill anybody.”

Thus declared their lawyer, Rod Moreno, at the start of the preliminary investigation on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 22, on the complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against the 17 policemen for the deaths of couples Ariel Evangelista and Ana Mariz in Nasugbu, Batangas.

“My clients went there (Nasugbu, Batangas) to enforce the law by implementing a judicially issued search warrant for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 on illegal possession of firearms,” Moreno said.

The preliminary investigation is being conducted by a panel of DOJ prosecutors.

The 17 policemen have been ordered by the panel of prosecutors to file their counter-affidavits on or before March 15.

The Evangelista couples were among those killed during the joint police and military operations in Southern Tagalog provinces in service of warrants on those reportedly linked the communist insurgent groups.

Seven other activists died while six others were arrested as a result of the operations.

The DOJ-led Administrative Order No. 35 Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons has been mandated to investigate the March 7, 2021 incident that has been dubbed “Bloody Sunday.”

Those charged with murder on the deaths of the Evangelista couple were PLt.Col. Joseph Nandu Jr., PLt. Arjay Santos, PMSg. Rafael Roque, PMSg. Mark Tolentino, PSSg. Elvern Cacatian, PSSg. Rodel Sillacay, PSSg. Edgar Brinas, PCpl. Aldrin Gabrillo, PCpl. Allen Lugue, Pat. Julio Bautista, Pat. Ray Boom Boom Dalingay, Pat. Grizzly Paras, Pat. Rogelio Ninolla, Pat. Ruel Tenoso, Pat. Rich John Melniel Tumacder, Pat. Renzo Santos, and Pat. Mark Lester Padul.

All of them are members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in Region IV-A.

Reports stated that the Evangelista couple were killed in Nasugbu, Batangas while policemen were serving search warrants against them.

“This filing (of the murder complaint) comes as the culmination of months of tireless work on the part of the Administrative Order No. 35 (s. 2012) Special Investigation Team that conducted the investigation and case buildup with the valuable and diligent assistance of the NBI,” the DOJ said in an earlier statement.

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