QCPD-CIDU chief on wife of NDFP consultant Echanis: Nasaan siya?

The chief of the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit urged Tuesday the family, especially the wife, of the late National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Randall Echanis to go to the police and prove that the body found in Novaliches, Quezon City was him.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Police Major Elmer Monsalve maintained that the victims of a stabbing incident were Manuel Santiago and Louie Tagapia based on identification cards found in the area.

"Nasaan siya? May proof ba siya na asawa siya? Dapat laging may proof. Nasaan eh hindi nagpunta sa CIDU kung siya nga ang asawa para maano natin kung itong si Manuel Santiago at 'yung sinasabi ninyong Echanis ay the same," Monsalve told GMA News Online.

"Pumunta siya dito para kunan namin ng statement, iinterviewhin namin, may mga hihinging documents para ma-prove nga niya na ito 'yun. Kaya ngayon 'pag tinanong akong Echanis, wala akong hawak na Echanis na case, Manuel Santiago. Ang hinihintay ko nga dito family ni Manuel Santiago," he added.

Monsalve said the family of Tagapia had already coordinated with authorities but the relatives of Santiago, or those who have been claiming that it is Echanis, has yet to go to the police.

"Aanhin ba namin 'yan para pigilan namin 'yan? Kaya lang may procedure tayo. Sa ngayon, ang hinihintay natin na family si Santiago. Kaya sabi ko nga pumunta sila dito para magkalinawan... Kami naman kasi kaya nandiyan, kasi trabaho namin," he added.

Monsalve said if the wife decides to go to the police, she should bring documents such as marriage contract that would prove that they are a couple.

In a Facebook post of Anakpawis, Erlinda, wife of Echanis, appealed to the police to return the body of her husband. On Monday night, her husband's body was forcibly taken by cops from the funeral parlor.

"Ibalik ninyo ang aking asawa na si Randall Echanis. Ibalik ninyo sa aming pamilya. Ngayon sa mamamayan na nakikinig, ibaling ang ating  rebolusyunaryong pighati sa rebolusyonaryong pakikibaka," Erlinda said.

Anakpawis earlier said Echanis, 72, and an unidentified neighbor were killed on August 10. Police have been insisting that Echanis was not among those killed as, based on the ID card they found, the victim was Manuel Santiago.

Authorities also said the landlady had identified the victim as Santiago.

According to Monsalve, Santiago had stab wounds while Tagapia had wounds in his head.

"Ang lumalabas doon, stab wounds, multiple stab wounds, Pagkatapos 'yung si Tagapia, ang wound sa ulo, laceration sa ulo at saka nakatali 'yung kamay sa likod," he said.

The police official said a probe is still ongoing as regards the incident.

Authorities are also checking if there are CCTV footages that can help in the investigation, Monsalve said.

At present, there is no person of interest or suspect yet on the killing, he added.—AOL, GMA News