The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the filing of murder charges by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the start of the preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice on the alleged involvement of 17 police officers over the killing of activists Ariel Evangelista and wife Ana Mariz during the so-called “Bloody Sunday” raids in Calabarzon.

The said officers are all from the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region IV-A, Southern Tagalog region.

Ariel and Ana Mariz Evangelista were part of the fisherfolk group UMALPAS-KA and were among the nine activists killed in simultaneous police operations during one Sunday in Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal in March 2021.

Based on the complaint filed by the NBI, lapses in the procedure of arrest by the officers involved and other evidence gathered by the Special Investigation Team of the Administrative Order (AO) No. 35 task force on extra-judicial killings conclude that there was a “deliberate intent to kill” on the part of the arresting officers during the said operation.

To recall, DOJ also reported in December 2021 that another 17 police officers, mostly from the Calabarzon regional police and one from CIDG Calabarzon, are facing murder charges for the death of labour leader Emmanuel “Manny” Asuncion during the same so-called “Bloody Sunday.” The preliminary investigation, according to DOJ, has been transferred to the Justice Department’s Office of the Prosecutor General.

CHR stresses that the government must continue to investigate questionable deaths and attacks against activists, human rights defenders, and individuals, including allegations of extrajudicial killings being linked to the government’s drug campaign. Mere filing of charges is insufficient to serve the ends of truth and justice. The wheels of justice must turn in favour of the rule of law.

Every instance of killing, especially if it allegedly involves the government and its agents, must be thoroughly and impartially scrutinised to ascertain any violation in their obligation to respect and uphold the human rights of all. Solving impunity requires government transparency and investigations to ensure full accountability. In the end, no perpetrator must be spared the full force of the law. #StopTheKillings