For the first time since the so-called “Bloody Sunday” in March in which 9 activists were killed in Southern Tagalog, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra met with relatives of the victims on Wednesday.
According to Guevarra, the meeting was held based on the request of the relatives of the victims.
The families of the victims expressed deep grief over the fate of their loved ones, according to Guevarra.
The secretary explained what the AO 35 task force or the inter-agency panel is conducting to investigate the extrajudicial killings.
Guevarra assured the bereaved families that he will do his best to find out the truth about the incident.
According to Bagong Alyasang Makabayan (BAYAN) Secretary-General Renato Reyes, the first meeting with Guevarra turned out well.
He said the meeting clarified the investigation process as well as the participation of witnesses in the Bloody Sunday case.
Relatives of those killed on ‘Bloody Sunday’ met with DOJ
“We found the meeting very encouraging as the process of investigation as well as the participation of witnesses were clarified. We will continue to seek justice for those who were killed and unjustly detained,” said Reyes.
Reyes added that survivors and witnesses in Bloody Sunday are still worried about their safety due to the ongoing military presence in their community.
On March 7, authorities conducted a simultaneous search warrant service in various areas in Calabarzon that resulted in the deaths of 9 activists.
Progressive groups claimed that the deadly crackdowns came after President Rodrigo Duterte announced during the joint meeting of the National Task Force – Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Northern Mindanao (NTF-RTF-ELCAC X) in Cagayan de Oro City to kill suspected rebels.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said earlier that there is a shoot-to-kill order against armed NPA from President Duterte.
ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro also urged the Supreme Court to investigate the “factory of search warrants” that was used during simultaneous police operations on Sunday that lead to arrests and killings of activists in Calabarzon.
Castro denounced the “Tokhang-style” operations, claiming that the Duterte administration has been using search warrants to set up and plant firearms against progressive groups’ leaders and members.