CHR to probe ex-Batangas lawmaker’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will conduct a parallel investigation into the killing of former Batangas lawmaker Edgar Mendoza and his two companions. 

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia condemned the killing, which she described as a “deplorable display of barbarity and cruelty.”

“The Commission on Human Rights condemns this horrible act along with the number of vigilante killings against present and former government officials,” De Guia said in a statement.

“Vigilante killings, which arbitrarily deprive individuals of right to life, contribute to the growing culture of impunity,” she said. 

De Guia said the case was endorsed to the CHR regional office in Calabarzon.

She called on law enforcement agencies to ensure the immediate resolution of the case to bring justice to the victims.

The charred remains of Mendoza, his driver Ruel Ruiz and bodyguard Nicanor, also surnamed Mendoza, were found in a burned vehicle on a bridge in  Barangay San Francisco in Tiaong, Quezon on Thursday. 

The Philippine National Police created a task force to investigate the incident while Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra directed the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate probe. 

Mendoza, a former regional trial court judge and commissioner of the then Bureau of Immigration and Deportation in the 90s, served as representative of the second district of Batangas from 1998 to 2001. 

Kin identifies bodies

Meanwhile, two of the bodies in the burned car were identified as Ruiz and Nicanor by their relatives, according to the son of the former congressman, lawyer Edgar Carlos.

“Ang ginawa nila (Scene of the Crime Operatives) ay process of elimination para ma-identify yung mga bodies pero hindi pa talaga 100 percent na verified,” he said.

“Yung katawan nung dalawang nasunog may nakakapit na maong, ang father ko hindi nagma-maong. Yung isa... malamang light materials ang suot, malamang yun ang father ko,”  Edgar said.

Clueless

He said their family remains clueless on the motive of killing, adding that they have yet to identify the person the former lawmaker was supposed to meet in Calamba, Laguna on Wednesday.

“Yung ka-meeting ni daddy, sana makipagtulungan sa pulisya o lumapit para kung wala naman talaga syang kinalaman e makatulong naman sa imbestigasyon,” Edgar said.  – With Arnell Ozaeta