The Department of Justice will find out whether there is basis for an inter-agency task force focused on extrajudicial killings to conduct an investigation into the killing of labor Dandy Miguel on Sunday.
“We’ll do a preliminary assessment first,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.
“If there’s any indication that Miguel’s death had something to do with his being a labor leader, the AO 35 committee will include his case for investigation,” he added.
Police authorities said Miguel, vice chairperson of Pamantik Kilusang Mayo Uno, was shot dead Sunday evening in Calamba City, Laguna.
The labor group condemned Miguel’s killing and immediately linked his death to the government’s crackdown on suspected leftist activists.
According to Guevarra, the preliminary assessment would likely take place this week.
Under Administrative Order 35, prosecutors will lead a team of investigators from law enforcement agencies to conduct the probe.
The AO 35 task force on extrajudicial killings is also investigating the deaths of nine activists in simultaneous police operations in Calabarzon on March 7, and the killings of activists Randall Echanis and Zara Alvarez last year.
“The AO 35 committee [meeting] scheduled last week was postponed due to a rash of COVID-19 cases in the DOJ. We’ll do the update after the meeting in April,” Guevarra said when sought for an update on the inventory of cases being handled by the committee.
