DOJ opens preliminary investigation into ‘Bloody Sunday’

MANILA – Prosecutors on Tuesday began the first of two preliminary investigation hearings on the death of couple Ana Marie and Ariel Evangelista, among the nine killed during the so-called “Bloody Sunday” operations against militant activists in Calabarzon in March 2021.

The Department of Justice panel composed of Hegel Jasper Balderama, Glacy Tabirara, and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Marmarie Satin-Vivas summoned 17 policemen to shed light on the incident.

A second hearing will be held on March 1 to determine if there is probable cause to file murder charges.

The respondents are Lt. Col. Joseph Nandu Jr., Lt. Arjay Santos, M/Sgt. Rafael Roque, M/Sgt. Mark Tolentino, S/Sgt. Elvern Cacatian, S/Sgt. Rodel Sillacay, S/Sgt. Edgar Brinas, Cpl. Aldrin Gabrillo, Cpl. Allen Lugue, and Patrolmen Julio Bautista, Ray Boom Boom Dalingay, Grizzly Paras, Rogelio Ninolla, Ruel Tenoso, Rich John Melniel Tumacder, Renzo Santos, and Mark Lester Padul.

They were all assigned at the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 4-A at Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna at the time of the incident.

The Evangelistas, killed inside their house in Nasugbu, Batangas, were members of the Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Pagwawasak ng Kalikasan at Kalupaan.

A special investigating team also recommended the filing of murder charges against “certain” law enforcers tagged in the killing of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Cavite official Emmanuel Asuncion.

The police operations in Calabarzon on March 7, 2021 likewise resulted in the arrest of six people in Laguna and Rizal.

Aside from the Evangelista couple and Asuncion, six others died in Rizal.

In the case of Asuncion, a search warrant was issued by a Manila judge. A pursuit operation resulted in his fatal shooting at the labor group organization office Workers’ Assistance Center in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

The investigations are part of the collective work of the DOJ, National Bureau of Investigation, and Administrative Order (AO) 35 Task Force, which manifests the government’s commitment to hold erring law enforcement officers and personnel accountable for excessive actions on the field, the DOJ previously said.

The AO 35 Task Force is the government’s inter-agency committee on extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave violations on the right to life, liberty, and security.