The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) expressed alarm over the alleged worsening of attacks against activists following the death of nine people in a series of operations in Calabarzon over the weekend.
The IBP feared incidents of such kind will increase with the implementation of the Anti-Terror Law. It insisted that the Supreme Court should step in and issue a temporary restraining order against the ATL.
“The killing and arrests of subjects of warrants in Rizal, Laguna and Cavite cause grave concern as these are members of groups also petitioning the Supreme Court for the invalidation of RA 11479,” IBP member Atty. Evalyn Ursua pointed out.
Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said there is still no directive on whether or not the case will be handed over to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). He, however, assured that an initial probe is ongoing to determine if there is a need for a special investigation team under AO 35 or an Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings.
“Nag-umpisa na ang aming investigation and maybe ‘yong aming preliminary finding siguro within the week or maybe even in the next two days (The probe has begun and the preliminary finding may be out within the week or maybe even in the next two days),” Sugay assured.
Vice President Leni Robredo labelled the incident over the weekend as massacre following the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte against communists. In response, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque dared Robredo to present evidence if she was an eyewitness.
“Pero kung hindi niya nakita ang pangyayari gaya ng presidente at gaya ng sambayanang Pilipino, maghintay ng resulta ng imbestigasyon (But if she did not see what happened like the president and the public, she should wait for the result of the investigation),” Roque countered.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon confirmed in the Laging Handa Public Briefing on Tuesday that President Duterte has a shoot-to-kill order for armed rebels.
“Kung hindi mo naman babarilin agad, ikaw naman ang mababaril lalo na ‘yung ating mga kababayan diyan sa mga barangay kung saan may impluwensya pa ang NPA na ‘to (You will be shot if you don’t shoot, especially those in barangays still influenced by the NPA),” Esperon explained.
“Kaya dapat lang, in the name of peace, law and order ay binitawan na nga ni pangulo ang shoot-to-kill orders against armed CPP-NPA (It’s just right in the name of peace, law, and order the president gave the shoot-to-kill orders against armed CPP-NPA),” Esperon added.
The national police earlier asserted the legitimacy of the crackdown last Sunday.
– Report from Kenneth Paciente
