The Department of Justice will first determine whether the deaths of three persons, including two peace consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, should be investigated by the inter-agency committee on extra-judicial killings.
“The DOJ will conduct a preliminary assessment of the subject incidents,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.
Guevarra serves as the chairman of the Administrative Order (AO) 35 Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons.
The DOJ chief said he has already issued the directive to make the assessment whether the AO 35 committee should investigate the killings of peace consultants —former Roman Catholic priest Rustico Tan and Reynaldo Bocala as well that of Bocala’s aide, Arguelles Epago.
“The AO 35 mechanism has been duly advised to start rolling,” Guevarra said.
Several individuals and advocacy groups have condemned the killings of the three persons who were all gunned down last Friday night, May 28.