Families of ‘Bloody Sunday’ fatalities slam PH gov't in appeal to UN body

The families of those who were killed in the ''Bloody Sunday'' raids in 2021 took their battle for justice to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

In complaints filed with the UN body, the families of Emmanuel Asuncion, Ana Mariz Lemita-Evangelista, and Ariel Evangelista called for accountability over the controversial police operations on March 7, 2021, which also killed six other activists.

Couple Ana and Ariel Evangelista were members of the Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Pagwawasak ng Kalikasan at Kalupaan.

Asuncion was the National Executive Vice President of the Organized Labor Association in Line Industries and Agriculture—Kilusang Mayo Uno.

The complaints alleged that there was a premeditated design to kill under the cover of legitimate police operations.

It said that on March 5, 2021, then-President Rodrigo Duterte issued an order to eliminate communist rebels, which was intended to “arrest and neutralize” individuals involved in “gun running, gun for hire, and extortion activities operating in the area of CALABARZON.”

In 2023, the Department of Justice dismissed the murder complaint against 17 policemen for the killing of Asuncion and Ariel and Ana Evangelista.

''The Philippine government's failure to protect the life of the victim, to offer adequate redress to his family, and to provide a safe environment for the complainant and her family demonstrates an egregious disregard for its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),'' Liezel Asuncion said in the complaint.

''The complainant's pursuit of justice has been obstructed by prolonged, ineffective legal procedures, lack of protection, and a climate of fear and intimidation for witnesses and survivors.''

The complaint asked the UNHRC to issue an opinion finding the Philippines to have breached its obligations under the ICCPR and to recommend measures that will ensure accountability from the suspects and strong protections for witnesses and Asuncion's family.

''This case exemplifies the broader pattern of ineffective domestic remedies in addressing the Bloody Sunday incidents,'' Rosenda Lemita, Ana's mother, said in another complaint.

QuadComm

Meanwhile, the families wrote letters to the House QuadComm, asking it to include the Bloody Sunday raids in their investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration, Jonathan Andal said in his report on ''24 Oras Weekend'' on Saturday.

“Kung matatanggap po namin ito ng Lunes, puwede na po natin siguro mapag-usapan ito at pagdedesisyunan po namin kung ito'y masasama ngayong Miyerkules,” said Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, lead chairperson of the QuadComm.

(If we receive it on Monday, we can decide if this can be included this Wednesday.)

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the DOJ and Duterte.— VBL, GMA Integrated News