PNP vows help for 17 cops in activists’ slay

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to extend legal assistance to 17 police officers who were charged with murder in connection with last year’s “Bloody Sunday” incident in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said the operation was legitimate as the officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group acted on orders of the court to serve a search warrant for illegal firearms at the residence of activists Ariel Evangelista and his wife Ana Mariz.

Aside from the Evangelistas, seven other activists were killed in police operations that were conducted simultaneously in several areas in Calabarzon.

The National Bureau of Investigation filed murder complaints against the officers before the Department of Justice.

Carlos assured the DOJ that the accused officers would be available any time they would be called for investigation.