The Department of Justice has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing of two activists in Guinobatan, Albay last July 25.
In his Department Order No. 175, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra directed NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor to file the necessary charges, if evidence warrants, against those who will be found responsible for the deaths of activists Jemar Palero, 22 and Marlon Naperi, 40.
“Further, OIC Distor is hereby directed to submit reports on the progress of the subject investigation directly to the Office of the Secretary within 10 days and periodically thereafter,” Guevarra said.
Human rights groups claimed that Palero and Naperi were shot dead by policemen who caught them spray-painting an anti-Duterte slogan on Banao bridge in Albay.
However, the policemen involved insisted that they were on mobile patrol when they saw the activists vandalizing the Banao Bridge.
Upon seeing the police, the activists allegedly fired shots at the cops who in turn shot back.
Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Eleazar also ordered a separate probe into the incident.
Eleazar had directed the PNP Internal Affairs Service to look into possible procedural lapses that led to the deaths of Palero and Napire.
The town’s police chief, Maj. Joel Jarabejo was relieved of his post and replaced by Capt. Ryan Flores.
“I accept that because the incident happened in my area, although we are also conducting a fair investigation,” said Jarabejo, who insisted that the two activists fired first at the cops.
But witnesses said the two men were unarmed. Palero’s mother said his body bore signs of torture.