Seven Caloocan City police officers are facing double murder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged participation in the summary execution of father and son during an anti-drug operations last year in the city.
Administrative charges of grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct were also filed against PSupt. Ali Jose Duterte, SPO1 Jose Saludas, PO3 John Cesar Mendoza, PO3 Edgar Manapat, PO1 Aldrin Matining, PS1 Avelino Andaya, PO3 Harold dela Rosa and PO3 Billy Villanueva.
Assisted by lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers, the complaint was filed by widow Mary Ann Domingo whose husband Luis and Son Gabriel Lois were allegedly killed by the respondents during a buy-bust operations last September 16.
Ms. Domingo maintained that it was not a buy-bust operation but a rubout.
“The police clearly intended to raid the victims’ private residence, armed to the teeth and with clear intent to kill stormed into the house,” the complaint stated
It said the accused with several other unidentified policemen broke into the house in Barangay 146, Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City, when the victims and other members of the family were already sleeping.
Ms. Domingo said she saw her husband and son being dragged outside the house and shot while kneeling and pleading for their lives.
The filing of the complaint followed after a short program outside the Ombudsman main gate denouncing President Duterte’s war on drugs with the event by human rights advocate Rise Up For Life and for Rights.
Rise Up said the families affected by drug-related killings have identified the common factor amongst them, “they are all poor.”
“Overcoming their own worries about how to relate with one another, they have joined together and committed to gathering evidence and filing cases in court against identified perpetrators of drug related killings,” it said.
“They recognize that their unity as bereaved families has grown stronger; however, they continue to appeal for others to join their fight for justice,” Rise Up added. (JUN RAMIREZ)