‘Bloody Sunday’ activists killed in police ops deserve homicide probe —forensic pathologist

The nine activists who were killed in police operations in Calabarzon in March deserve a homicide investigation, a forensic pathologist who conducted an autopsy on their bodies said on Wednesday.

"All of them had shots in the chest, so they were really shot to be killed," Dr. Raquel Fortun said in a press conference.

“For all of them, each case deserves a homicide investigation," she added.

In a video message on Thursday, Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar vowed to continue to investigate these incidents and continue to cooperate in probes.

“We take all the criticism on the conduct of our operation in a constructive manner for as long as they are based on truth and are done in a way that is intended to reform  and not to destroy  our organization,” he said.

Nine activists were killed while six others were arrested in simultaneous police operations in Calabarzon on March 7, the Police Regional Office 4A said.

Six of the fatalities were reported in Rizal, two in Batangas, and one in Cavite.

They were identified as Emmanuel Asuncion of Cavite, spouses Ariel and Ana Mariz Evangelista in Batangas, brothers Edward and Abner Esto, cousins Puroy and Randy dela Cruz, Marvin Dasigao , and Mark Lee Bacasno in Rizal

According to the PRO4A, several police-military units and offices conducted simultaneous implementation of search warrants against these alleged “communist terrorists.”

Progressive groups pointed out that the deadly crackdown comes on the heels of President Rodrigo Duterte's speech at the joint meeting of a regional anti-insurgency task force at Cagayan de Oro City.

He told government forces to kill suspected rebels, without regard for human rights. — BM, GMA News