A panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice has dismissed the grievance for homicide towards 17 policemen for the killing of labor chief Emmanuel Asuncion in 2021 in Cavite within the so-called “Bloody Sunday” raid.
The 23-page decision stated the grievance filed by Asuncion’s spouse, Liezl, be “dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.”
“We lament the demise of Emmanuel Asuncion. However, complainant and the evidence she submitted failed to discharge the obligation to prove the existence of a crime and identify the perpetrators,” it stated.
“In the absence of proof, there could be no probable cause to charge the respondents,” it added.
The decision additionally directed the information to be returned to the National Bureau of Investigation-CAVIDO “for the conduct of further investigation to determine the identities of the assailants.”
The decision was signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rodan Parrocha and Assistant State Prosecutor Moises Yao Acayan.
Named respondents within the grievance have been: Lieutenant Elbert Santos, Lieutenant Shay Jed Sapitula, Senior Master Sergeant Hector Cardinales, Master Sergeant Ariel Dela Cruz, Staff Sergeant Jemark Sajul, Corporal Ernie Ambuyoc, Corporal Mark John Defiesta, Corporal Arjay Garcia, Corporal Caidar Dimacangun, Corporal Bryan Sanchez, Corporal Ericson Lucido, Patrolman Jayson Maala, Patrolman Juanito Plite, Patrolman Jonathan Tatel, Patrolman Prince Benjamin Torres, Patrolman Jaime Turingan, and Patrolman Rey PJ Dacara Lopera.
Asuncion was one of many 9 activists killed on March 7, 2021 when police authorities carried out simultaneous police operations in Calabarzon.
Liezl had stated the raiding workforce that barged into their home in Cavite didn’t present a search warrant. They have been additionally carrying ski masks that make them onerous to determine.
During the raid, Manny was separated from Liezl and after a couple of minutes, gun photographs have been heard and the labor chief was discovered wounded and later died.
According to the decision, “it was clear that there was no eye witness to the purported killing” of Asuncion.
“Likewise, there was also nothing that directly incriminates the respondents in killing him,” it added.
No justice
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary common Renato Reyes Jr. expressed his dismay over the choice through Twitter, saying “walang hustisya, matapos ang 1 taon, ibinasura ng DOJ ang kaso laban sa mga pulis na sangkot sa Bloody Sunday massacre at pagpatay kay Manny Asuncion. Ang complaint ay isinampa panahon ni SoJ (Menardo) Guevarra pero na-dismiss sa panahon ni SoJ Remulla. Napakasahol.”
“Nakipagdayalogo pa nga kami kay SoJ Guevarra noon at nagpasalamat sya na nagtiwala kami sa DoJ at sa TF AO35 para imbestigahan ang pagpatay. Nagbuo ng mga imbestgador mula sa mga prosecutors, nag cooperate ang mga testigo at naisampa ang kaso. Sa panahon ni SoJ Remulla binasura,” he added.
Defend Southern Tagalog additionally shared an announcement quoting Manny Asuncion’s final phrases, “mga tao rin kami.”
“These are the facts of the case. The irony is lost on the prosecutor. Asuncion was not humanely treated on that early morning. The prosecutor’s absolution of the 17 police officers reinforces this. But seemingly the police officers’ template chorus of “presumption of regularity” appeared match for the prosecutor, even after the 1000’s of Tokhang instances with a reprise of the identical,” it stated—LDF, GMA Integrated News
