The aftermath of the crackdown on activists showed the blood-soaked quarters of Workers’ Assistance Center in Dasma, Cavite where Manny Asuncion of Bayan-Cavite was gunned down. Image from KMU/Twitter
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday challenged Vice President Leni Robredo to show “evidence” that the police operations in Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon region) that led to the death of nine activists were in fact a “massacre,” or face a lawsuit.
Robredo on Monday night called for a “clean and independent” investigation for what she called as a “massacre” of nine activists over the weekend.
“Unang una, kung personal na nakita ni Vice President yung pangyayari, aba’y magbigay siya ng ebidensya. Kasi ang pananalita niya, parang nakita ng dalawang mata nya kung ano ang nangyari doon sa mga patayan na yun,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.
(First, Robredo needs to back up her claim with proof because it sounded as if she saw the killings with her own eyes.)
“Pag hindi siya nagbigay ng ebidensya, kasalanan din po yan; baka sya ay makasuhan,” he added.
(If she doesn’t provide the evidence, then she risks being sued.)
Roque further said that if Robredo did not personally witness what transpired, she should wait for the investigation.
A task force on extrajudicial killings led by the Department of Justice will probe the killings.
“So kung ano man ang conclusion ni Vice President Robredo, kung wala siya doon sa mga pangyayaring ‘yon, as usual, laging mali ang ating Vice President,” he went on.
(So whatever is the conclusion of Vice President Robredo, if she was not present during the incident, as usual, she’s still wrong.)
At least nine activists were killed and six were arrested on Sunday in simultaneous operations across Calabarzon.