Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Justice Secretary Leila De Lima urged police officers and soldiers involved in the shooting incident in Atimonan, Quezon that killed 13 people to cooperate with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and save themselves from possible charges.
“We’re giving them chance to cooperate and possibly be considered state witnesses. I’m directing such appeal to the enlisted men or the lower-ranked operatives involved in the operations. We assured them of their safety,” she told reporters at the DOJ Monday.
She assured that with genuine cooperation, the government will ensure their safety.
“If that happens, the government assures him or them, as the case maybe, of their safety and proper treatment,” she said.
De Lima gave the statement after the police and military insisted before the NBI that the operation that led to the death of three policement, 3 soldiers and an environmentalist was legitimate.