DOJ Orders Probe to the Death of 2 Activists Gunned Down in Albay

DOJ Taps NBI to Probe the Death of 2 Activists Gunned Down in Albay

The Department of Justice (DOJ) directs the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the death of two (2) activists death in Guinobotan, Albay.

Under Department Order No. 175, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has directed the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the killings of activists Jemar Palero and Marlon Naperi. He also directed NBI to file appropriate charges against individuals found accountable if the evidence warranted.

2 Albay Activists

According to the human rights group Defend Bicol, the victims were shot by police after they were captured spray painting “DUTERTE IBAGSAK” protest art on a bridge on Monday, which was later discontinued following an alleged gun battle with the police.

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The victims, according to the police, were armed and fought back. They fired two rounds at the arresting cops, striking the patrol car, according to the earlier article.

At the crime site, police recovered a.45 caliber gun, a.38 revolver, three rounds of.45 caliber ammunition, three rounds of.38 caliber revolver ammo, nine rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and unregistered motorcycles.

Meanwhile, Police General Guillermo Eleazar, the chief of the Philippine National Police, has launched an investigation into the shooting. The cops involved have also been placed in solitary confinement.

The Defend Bicol Stop The Attacks Network, an alliance of Bicol human rights organizations, issued a statement condemning the killing and calling it an attack on human rights. Palero was identified as a member of Magsasaka sa Albay, while Napire was identified as an Albay People’s Organization member.

“The unarmed civilians are now being branded as ‘nanlaban’ by police forces, an old narrative of the police being used in tokhang operations,” Defend Bicol said in a statement.

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