Guevarra orders NBI to probe slay of 2 Guinobatan, Albay activists

THE Department of Justice has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to dig deeper into the killing of two activists in Guinobatan, Albay last July 25.

In his Department Order 175, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra instructed NBI Officer-in-charge (OIC) Eric Distor to file charges, if evidence warrants, against those who will be found responsible for the deaths of activists Jemar Palero and Marlon Naperi.

“Further, OIC Distor is hereby directed to submit reports on the progress of the subject investigation directly to the Office of the Secretary within 10 days and periodically thereafter,” Guevarra said.

Human rights groups claimed that Palero and Naperi were shot dead by policemen who caught them spray-painting an anti-duterte slogan on a bridge in Albay.

The policemen involved, however, claimed they were on mobile patrol when they saw the activists vandalizing the Banao Bridge.

When the activists sensed their presence, they allegedly fired shots at the cops, prompting the latter to shoot back.

Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Eleazar has also ordered a separate probe into the incident.