DOJ: Murder raps filed vs. 30 cops over 'Bloody Sunday' killings

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said murder complaints have been filed against 30 police officers and personnel allegedly linked to the March 2021 "Bloody Sunday" incident.

The incident refers to the police operation to serve search warrants in Batangas that led to the deaths of several activists.

"'Yun pong na-involve sa Bloody Sunday, meron na pong finile, as per the report of the AO 35 team, nag-file na po ng cases for murder sa Office of the Prosecutor against 30 PNP officers and personnel," said Justice Undersecretary Brigido Dulay told the House appropriations committee during a budget hearing.

(For those involved in Bloody Sunday, as per the EO 35 team, there were murder cases filed with the Office of the Prosecutor against 30 PNP officers and personnel.)

Dulay was responding to ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro's inquiry regarding updates on the investigation into the Bloody Sunday incident.

GMA News Online has reached out to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its comment, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

PI stage

Dulay said a preliminary investigation is currently ongoing. He also committed to submit the status of the cases to the committee.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) previously filed complaints for murder against 17 police personnel.

When asked if the personnel are currently detained, Dulay reiterated that the cases are still undergoing preliminary investigation.

“So PI stage pa lang po ito. Kapag natapos po ‘yung PI doon po magkakaroon ng desisyon ang aming prosecutor whether to file the information or not.”

(We're still at the PI stage. Once this is done, our prosecutors will reach a decision on whether to file information or not.)

Castro, however, noted that the preliminary investigation seems to be taking longer than usual since it involved uniformed personnel.

"Observation lang ano, kapag involved 'yung uniformed personnel, ang tagal ng PI, pero pagmagtra-trumped up cases, kulong agad," she said.

(I just observed that if uniformed personnel are involved, the PI period is long, but if it involves trumped-up charges, the person is detained immediately.)

Castro said the Bloody Sunday was "obvious[ly] a murder," citing the case of Bayan Cavite coordinator Manny Asuncion, who was among those killed.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he is among those who were disheartened by the death of Asuncion, who was shot in a raid at the Workers Assistance Center.

"Kaibigan ko po si Manny Asuncion. Lagi ko ka-text dati 'yan, kausap ko. At kung mayroong nalungkot sa pangyayaring 'yan, isa na po ako sa nalungkot sa pangyayaring 'yan at hindi ko 'yan pinalalampas," he said.

(Manny Asuncion was my friend. We were always texting and talking before. And if there were people who were saddened by what happened, I am one of them.) —KBK, GMA News