Eleazar orders probe on fatal shooting of 2 Albay activists

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar. Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the killing of two activists who were shot allegedly by policemen upon catching them spray painting protest slogans on a bridge in Guinobatan, Albay.

“Upang maalis ang mga haka-haka at alegasyon tungkol sa pagkamatay ng dalawa umanong aktibista sa Albay, inatasan ko na ang Internal Affairs Service sa pamumuno ni Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo na tutukan at pabilisin ang isinasagawang imbestigasyon upang bigyan ng linaw kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari dito,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(To remove speculations and allegations on the death of the alleged two activists in Albay, I already tasked the Internal Affairs Service headed by Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo to prioritize and fast track the investigation to shed light on what really happened.)

Eleazar also said he ordered Bicol police chief Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo to place the involved policemen under restrictive custody.

According to the police report, Jemar Palero, 22, and Marlon Naperi, 38, were killed Monday morning in Barangay Lower Binogsacan in Guinobatan after firing first at the policemen. This prompted the lawmen to retaliate.

The broad alliance group Defend Bicol Stop the Attacks Network, however, claimed that the two activists were unarmed when they were shot dead by members of the Albay City police.

The two victims spray painted “Duterte Ibags” on the Banao Bridge of what appears to be an unfinished protest slogan, according to the group.

Defend Bicol said Palero was a member of Organisasyon ng mga Magsasaka sa Albay while Naperi was from human rights group Albay People’s Organization.

RELATED STORY:

Killing of 2 activists hours before SONA condemned 

JPV