MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered its task force on extrajudicial killings to investigate the murder of National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Randall “Randy” Echanis last Monday in Quezon City.
However, DOJ secretary Menardo Guevarra, said the probe would only start once confirmed if it was Echanis who was killed after the Quezon City Police District claimed that it was not the activists who was murdered.
“In view of the emerging confusion as to the identity of the subject, however, we shall await confirmation by the family of the deceased that the subject was indeed peasant leader Echanis,” Guevarra said.
“It is important for the family to validate his identity as the Administrative Order 35 task force on EJK only covers the summary killings of persons on account of their advocacies,” he added.
There was confusion on the identity of the person killed inside his home in Novaliches, Quezon City last Monday as the QCPD is claiming it was a certain “Manuel Santiago” who was killed based on the identification card found with the remains.
Echanis’ wife, Erlinda, however, positively identified the remains as that of the activist. Anakpawis Partylist, which Echanis headed, also confirmed his identity as they even posted a photo of the cadaver to prove it.
Amid the confusion, the body of Echanis was forcibly taken by policemen from his family’s chosen funeral home on early Tuesday as the police claimed “a release order” has not been issued yet, and that the cadaver will be brought to Pink Petal Funeral Homes in La Loma under their custody.
Meanwhile, Malacañang urged critics to wait for the result of the investigation before blaming the government as behind Echanis murder.
“Antayin po natin ang imbestigasyon. ‘Wag po masyadong mabilis manisi sa gobyerno dahil dati naman po, ang CPP-NPA, sila mismo ang nagpatayan,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday./PN
