Nothing is more condemnable than the Department of Justice’s dismissal of criminal charges against the police operatives over the brutal killing of labor leader and Bayan Cavite spokesperson Emmanuel “Ka Manny” Asuncion less than two months before the anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre that simultaneously killed nine activists, including Asuncion, in Calabarzon region on March 7, 2021.Headed by Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, the department justified its decision by saying there is no sufficient evidence to prove “the existence of a crime and identify the perpetrators,” despite the evidence and autopsy reports that point to the police’s culpability. Interestingly, it was also on the basis of lack of evidence that the son of Secretary Remulla was acquitted of possession of illegal drugs amounting to P1.3 million only two weeks ago.
This only goes to show how poor and selective the justice system in the Philippines is, as it works in favor of the wealthy and powerful, while the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings continue to seek justice.
In any case, the fight for justice will continue until Ka Manny’s perpetrators are made accountable for their crimes. Tuloy ang laban para sa hustisya!Justice for Manny Asuncion!
Stop the killings!
Daniel Aloc,
tierra.giya@yahoo.com