MANILA, Philippines — The families of 14 people killed in police operations in Negros Oriental on March 30 should file criminal charges against concerned police officers if they feel that there had been abuses, Malacañang said yesterday.
“There is a presumption of regularity of the police action as the operations were backed by search warrants... The families, however, can always file criminal charges against the police officers... it is the proper and legal recourse available to them,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
Panelo was reacting to the statement of farmers and human rights groups in Negros Oriental that the 14 were summarily executed.
“We assure the families of the 14... who died during the simultaneous police operations in Negros Oriental that President Duterte will not allow police brutality or tolerate police abuse,” he said.
Panelo said Malacañang is waiting for the result of the police investigation into the incident.
Impartial probe
Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortez sought an independent and impartial probe, adding that further delay would “fan the flames of unrest” among ordinary citizens in Negros Oriental.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, who met with security officials in Negros and Cebu on Monday, said the families of some of the fatalities are not interested to press charges against the perpetrators.
“We will now have to work with the Commission on Human Rights,” Alminaza said.
“I understand why... as they don’t want to go through the ordeal,” he added.
Alminaza said concerned government agencies should also assist the families of the fatalities.
Two of the fatalities were barangay captains in Manjuyod town and eight were farmers.