Makabayan bloc wants House probe on killing of NDFP consultant Echanis

Erlinda Echanis looks at the remains of her husband, NDFP peace consultant Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis at La Funenaria Paz in Quezon City. Echanis was found dead in his rented home in Novaliches, Quezon City.    RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives is seeking an investigation on the “merciless killing” of Anakpawis chairperson and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Randall Echanis.

House Resolution No. 1131, a copy of which was sent to the media on Monday, directs the Committee on Human Rights to conduct the said investigation, in aid of legislation.

The House’s Makabayan bloc includes Bayan Muna party-list representatives Eufemia Cullamat, Carlos Isagani Zarate, and Ferdinand Gaite; Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas; ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro and Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Jane Elago.

“Echanis’ brutal murder was executed amid a culture of impunity under the administration of President Duterte who has himself made repeated remarks against protesters and critics, encouraging ‘shoot to kill’ orders and other threats to be carried out by state forces,” the lawmakers said.

“The merciless killing of Randall Echanis, who was undergoing medical treatment at the time of his killing, and in the middle of a pandemic no less, is unjustifiable and is a blatant attack on groups advocating peasant rights and genuine agrarian reform and all advocates for just peace and genuine social and economic reforms,” they added.

Congress, the lawmakers said, should defend the rights of the people.

“Laws and rules should serve the interest of our people and abuses against it should be held to account. Congress is duty-bound to conduct investigations to be able to uphold justice and protect the people against abuses especially during extraordinary times such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” the lawmakers stressed.

Echanis and his neighbo,r Louie Tagapia were found dead inside the former’s apartment in Novaliches, Quezon City on August 10.

Anakpawis has called on the Office of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR) to look into the murder of Echanis, saying that the latter “had been always a target of state’s persecution and neutralization.”

Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has said that will be hard for President Rodrigo Duterte to intervene in the probe of Echanis’ death and that the President will just allow the investigation to continue.

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