The Department of Justice has dismissed the homicide criticism in opposition to 17 cops allegedly concerned within the killing of spouses Chai and Ariel Evangelista on March 7, 2021 within the so-called Bloody Sunday raids.
In a 25-page decision, the panel of prosecutors really useful the dismissal of the homicide criticism in opposition to the police for insufficiency of proof. Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento authorized the decision.
The decision was dated December 5, 2022 however was made public on Friday.
The panel cleared respondents Police Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Tan Nandu Jr., Police Lieutenant Arjay Santos, Police Master Sergeant Rafael Roque, Police Master Sergeant Mark Tolentino, Police Staff Sergeant Elvern Cacatian, Police Staff Sergeant Rodel Sillacay, Police Staff Sergeant Edgar Brinas, Police Corporal Aldrin Gabrillo, Police Corporal, Police Corporal Allen Lugue, Patrolman, Julio Bautista, Patrolman Ray Boom Boom Dalingay, Patrolman Grizzly Paras, Patrolman Rogelio Ninolla, Patrolman Ruel Tentoso, Patrolman Rich Tumacder, Patrolman Renzo Santos, and Patrolman Mark Padul.
The couple was among the many activists killed on March 7, 2021, when police authorities performed simultaneous police operations in Calabarzon.
According to the panel, the complainants alleged a conspiracy as a result of the respondents have been current, at, or close to the place of the incident. It stated this isn’t adequate to ascertain conspiracy.
“It would be highly speculative to assume that respondents agreed among themselves to kill spouses Evangelista when there are records which showed that the PNP conducted pre-operation preparations in implementing the search warrants against persons who are armed and dangerous,” it stated.
Meanwhile, the panel stated {that a} report from the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed that bullets recovered from the our bodies have been from a caliber 5.56 mm firearm.
However, it stated that primarily based on a firearms identification report, the cartridges, and bullets recovered from the home have been fired from a caliber .45 1911-A1 US Army Government Model Colt pistol and one caliber .45 Government Model Colt pistol.
The panel stated these have been the pistols recovered within the alleged possession of the spouses inside their dwelling.
“Since there were no 9mm bullets or cartridges recovered from the subject house or within its premises, they could not be held liable for the killing of spouses Evangelista,” the panel stated.
“Without any controverting evidence presented by the complainant, the documentary evidence supporting the allegations of respondents stands and is given more weight,” it added.
Meanwhile, the panel famous that the complainant’s witnesses stated there was round 50 to 100 uniformed personnel inside the premises.
“This shows that there was allegedly more uniformed personnel present at the area but were not, however, charged in the complaint,” it stated.
The DOJ in January additionally dismissed the homicide criticism in opposition to 17 cops for the killing of labor chief Emmanuel Asuncion.
Motion for reconsideration
The personal complainant’s legal professionals from the National Union of People’s Lawyers stated their camp would ask the prosecutors to rethink the dismissal.
“We will definitely file a motion for reconsideration,” stated Atty. Josa Deinla, secretary basic of the NUPL.
NUPL president Atty. Ephraim Cortez referred to as the conclusion of the prosecutors “absurd.”
“It is apparent that the investigation was performed to not search out the killers, however to absolve these concerned within the incident,” Cortez instructed GMA News Online on Friday.
“This is obvious from the conclusion of the panel of prosecutors who concluded that the testimonies of witnesses, who were present during the incident, including the couple’s son, who saw policemen dragging his parents out of their dwelling, are inconsistent with the documentary evidence i.e. the police report, the inventory of alleged seized firearms, the positive result of the paraffin test on Ariel,” he stated. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
