Task force on EJKs concludes probe into Calabarzon bloody raid
THE Department of Justice’s AO 35 Special Investigating Teams have concluded its investigation into the bloody Calabarzon raids that left nine activists died and six others arrested during simultaneous police and military operations in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal last March 7.
“The AO 35 Special Investigating Team on the bloody Sunday incidents is ready with its first report. Just wait a few more days. We’re just going over it,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a message.
The AO 35 task force is a special unit of the DOJ that conducts an investigation into politically-motivated killings or extrajudicial killings of members of civil society groups, political movements, people’s and non-government organizations.
Reports showed that authorities were able to recover explosives, several firearms, and subversive documents during the March 7 operations in Calabarzon.
The simultaneous raids were carried out by the Philippine National Police, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to serve search warrants for loose firearms and illegal possession of explosives.
Human rights organizations said search warrants were being weaponized against activists like “planting” of evidence for trumped-up charges.
