The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the criminal indictment of three police officers who killed a Spaniard during a supposed anti-drug operation in Siargao Island.
The DOJ’s Office of the Prosecutor General on Friday said it found probable cause to file charges of murder and planting of evidence against Police Capt. Wise Vicente Panuelos and Police Sergeants Ronel Pazo and Nido Boy Cantos for the killing of Spanish national Diego Lafuente in January 2020.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra previously said the killing of Lafuente was among the first batch of “nanlaban” cases that a DOJ-led review panel had looked into. “Nanlaban” cases refer to incidents wherein drug suspects were killed for supposedly resisting arrest.
READ: Spanish national slain in anti-drug operation in Siargao
According to the DOJ, the physical and forensic evidence gathered by the National Bureau of Investigation belied the claim of the erring cops that Lafuente had fired at them.
“Forensic results disproved the claim of … a shootout,” the DOJ said. —Marlon Ramos
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