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BLOODY SUNDAY DEATHS

Groups protest DOJ’s dismissal of murder complaint in Manny Asuncion case


Labor groups on Wednesday trooped to the Department of Justice to protest its dismissal of the murder complaint against 17 cops allegedly involved in the death of labor leader Manny Asuncion in the March 7, 2021 "Bloody Sunday" raids in Calabarzon.

Members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Defend Southern Tagalog carried images of Asuncion and other slain activists. In red words on a black cloth, one banner read: "Never Forget Bloody Sunday!"

Liezl, Asuncion’s wife, was also present at the indignation rally.

Asuncion was one of the nine activists killed on March 7, 2021 when police authorities conducted simultaneous police operations in Calabarzon.

On Tuesday, DOJ prosecutors dismissed the complaint against the cops for “insufficiency of evidence.”

The prosecutors also directed the records to be returned to the National Bureau of Investigation-CAVIDO "for the conduct of further investigation to determine the identities of the assailants."

Sought for comment, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that more case build-up was needed to ensure prosecution in court.

The protest was already ongoing before the gates of the DOJ when the justice secretary arrived.

“Ako, I haven’t seen the case but everything is based on the evidence. Ngayon, they still have to make a better case build-up to be able to file a case that we can prosecute in court,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

“Kasi it’s useless to file a case kung hindi din namin ma pro-prosecute kung bitin ang evidence. So bigyan pa ng kaonting panahon na makahanap ng ebidensya kasi hindi naman ganon kadali mag case build-up, eh,” he added.

(Because it’s useless to file a case if we can’t prosecute due to a lack of evidence. So we need to wait for more time to gather more evidence because building up a case is not that easy.)

According to Remulla, the investigation into the case is not yet over.

“Oh, yes. It’s just that the case filed by the police was not enough. Ganoon lang naman ‘yan eh. That’s the only thing that you have to look at. Is there enough evidence to use to prosecute a person so that they can be convicted if you accuse them,” he said.

Meanwhile, he urged the protesters to refrain from supposedly "pressuring the prosecution."

“So they’re picking up a political line here, which I hope that they will not use to pressure the prosecutors in the prosecuting of the case. We need good cases to file,” Remulla said.

Remulla also said that he himself was saddened by Asuncion’s death.

“Kilala ko siya. Kaibigan ko nga siya, eh. Ka text ko ‘yan eh. So I was one of those people na malungkot nga nung namatay si Manny nung nabalitaan ko,” he said.

(I knew him. He was a friend of mine, in fact. We would text each other. So I was one of those people saddened by Manny's death.)

The Justice Secretary’s remark, however, was met with indignation by KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis.

“Nalungkot si Secretary Remulla? Syet, kalokohan ‘yun. Prop niya ‘yun sa publiko. Letse siya. Si Ka Manny nagpakita ng ebidensya. ‘Yugn anak niya, nakunan ng possession ng droga, ilang months lang nakulong wala na,” he said.

(Secretary Remulla was sad? That’s preposterous. That’s his prop for the public. Ka Manny showed evidence. His son, who was caught with possession of drugs, was freed after being detained for a few months.)

Earlier this month, Remulla’s son, Juanito Remulla III, was acquitted of the charge of illegal drug possession after he was nabbed with P1.3 million worth of high-grade marijuana during a controlled delivery operation in Las Piñas on October 11, 2022.

Adonis said that the DOJ through Administrative Order 35 should do its job if it wants stronger evidence.

Under AO 35, the Inter-Agency Committee On Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture, and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons (IAC) was created.

“Therefore, gawin nila ‘yung trabaho nila kung gusto nila ng mas matibay na ebidensya at case build-up. Again, uulitin ko, nagawa na ng pamilya ‘yung mga testimonya na dapat magawa nila. Therefore, gawin ng gobyerno ngayon, ng DOJ, through AO 35, ‘yung trabaho nila,” he said.

(They should do their job if they want a stronger case build-up. I repeat, the family has already given testimony. Therefore the government, the DOJ, should do their job.)

This was echoed by Southern Tagalog spokesperson Charm Maranan.

“Of course, this is disappointing because the special investigation also actually was commissioned by the DOJ. Sila bumuo noon [They formed it]. At supposedly, it was their task, it is their task, na buuin ang ebidensya [to put the evidence together],” Maranan said.

Remulla, for his part, said that he will meet with the personnel of the special investigation.

Meanwhile, though Liezl was present, she declined to give an interview.

According to Adonis, their family continues to receive threats.

“Well po, nag papatuloy. Hanggang ngayon hindi po sila makauwi sa kanilang sariling tirahan so hiwa-hiwalay po sila hanggang ngayon,” he said.

(It has continued. Until now they can’t return to their home. They are separated until now.) — BM, GMA Integrated News

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