The House Makabayan Bloc filed a resolution that would investigate the killing of peace consultant and Anakpawis leader Randy Echanis.
Six Makabayan Bloc members filed House Resolution 1131, which orders the House Committee on Human Rights to probe the Echanis’ death.
“The merciless killing of Randall Echanis, who was undergoing medical treatment at the time of his killing, in the middle of a pandemic no less, is unjustifiable and is a blatant attack on groups advocating peasant rights and genuine agrarian reform and all advocates for just peace and genuine social and economic reforms,” the resolution read.
“Laws and rules should serve the interest of our people, and abuses against it should be held to account. Congress is duty-bound to conduct investigations to be able to uphold justice and protect the people against abuses, especially during extraordinary times such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” it added.
Last week, Anakpawis party-list said that Randy Echanis and an unidentified neighbor were killed in a rented house in Novaliches.
Former Anakpawis representative Ariel Casilao claimed Echanis, 72, was undergoing medical treatment and unarmed when “police forces” raided his house.
However, the police said Echanis was not among the two individuals killed in the incident. Police Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo, chief of Quezon City police, said the victims were identified as Louie Tagapia and Manuel Santiago.
The peasant leader’s widow, Erlinda, insisted her husband was killed.
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Makabayan lawmakers want probe on Randy Echanis killing
Anakpawis posted on Twitter that Erlinda said Echanis’ body “bore torture marks, multiple stab, and gunshot wounds.”
Erlinda also claimed that police officers “forcibly took” Echanis’ remains from the funeral parlor to return it to Pink Petal Funeral Homes in La Loma.
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said a “thorough forensic examination may be necessary” despite Erlinda’s identification. He said they need to consider “questions” about the identity of the victim.
The body of Randy Echanis was released Wednesday night after the Quezon City Police again took the slain peace consultant and peasant leader.
The body was released from Pink Petals Memorial Homes in Quezon City around 8 pm after the QCPD called the funeral home that the cross-match was positive and allowed Echanis to be returned to his family, according to Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas.