MURDER charges have been filed before the Dasmarinas City, Cavite Prosecutors Office against 17 policemen involved in one of the nine deaths during the “Bloody Sunday” police operation targeting alleged members of the New People’s Army last March in Calabarzon.
Charged for murder in the death of Emmanuel Asuncion were Lts. Elbert Santos and Shay Jed Sapitula, SM/Sgt. Hector Cardinales, M/Sgt.Ariel Dela Cruz, S/Sgt. Joemark Sajul, CPLs Ernie Ambuyoc, Mark John Defiesta, Arjay Garcia, Caidar Dimacangun, Bryan Sanchez and Ericson Lucido.
Also charged were Patrolmen Jayson Maala, Juanito Plite, Jonathan Tatel, Prince Benjamin Torres, Jaime Turingan and Lopera Rey Dacara.
Investigating Prosecutor Rogelio Radoc Jr. set the preliminary investigation of the case on January 11 and 25 next year.
Asuncion was a labor organizer and secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Cavite at the time of his death.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier confirmed the filing of the murder charges upon the investigation and recommendation of the AO35 Special Investigating Team.
Authorities claimed the nine resisted arrest and fought back, prompting them to retaliate.
But forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun, who conducted an examination on the victims along with the UP College Medicine, said they were “really shot to be killed.”
“All of them have shots in the chest area. They were really shot to be killed,” Fortun said.
Human rights groups and the victim’s families denied they were NPA members, saying they were human rights workers and activists.
Asuncion was shot dead by policemen at the office of the Workers Assistance Center in Dasmarinas City despite the fact that the search warrant issued by Manila Executive Judge Jose Lorenzo dela Rosa was for his residence in the municipality of Rosario, also in Cavite.
The warrant claimed that Asuncion was allegedly keeping a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition in his residence.
Guevarra also said the National Bureau of Investigation is winding down its interview of witnesses in the deaths of the Evangelista couple — Chai and Ariel — of the Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Pagwasak ng Kalikasan at Kalupaan at the same police operation.
However, Guevarra said the SIT did not look into the circumstances of the death of cousins Puroy dela Cruz and Randy dela Cruz “as no cause-oriented connection was established.”
The two were indigenous people’s rights advocates in the province of Rizal and were killed in the same police operation.
