By John Clifford Lintao
Due to quarantine protocols, police prevented a mass for the death of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Randall Echanis in front of a funeral parlor in La Loma, Quezon City on Wednesday.
Instead, the mourners offered a solidarity prayer for the slain NDFP official.
“Ngayon po ay nagkaroon tayo ng pagdadasal, hindi tayo pinayagang magmisa eh. Hindi full length na misa ‘yung ginanap ngayon kahit na mayroon tayong health measures na ginawa tulad ng physical distancing at naga-alcohol naman tayo,” said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas.
She added: “I’m sure lahat naman dito ay ayaw magkasakit… hindi tayo nakapag-misa ng full blown.”
The NDFP leader’s remains under the police custody, but the lawmaker hopes that the Echanis would soon be turned over to his family.
“Ang inaasahan natin ngayon ay marelease na ‘yung body kasi ‘yun naman talaga ‘yung panawagan ng pamilya. Kitang-kita naman natin na wala namang reason para hindi ibigay sa pamilya ‘yung katawan ng namatay,” Brosas said.
Echanis’ wife, Erlinda, had already identified that the body found dead inside a rented house in Novaliches was her husband.
However, police have been insisting that those found inside the house were Manuel Santiago and Louie Tagapia so they took back the body, which was allegedly obtained without permission by Anakpawis members.
Meanwhile, Brosas wants the international community to know the murder of Echanis because he is a consultant of the NDFP. His death has an impact to socio-political and economic affairs, she said.
“Hindi po biro na isang peace consultant ang pinatay. Kasi peace consultant po ‘yun eh. May implication ‘yun sa socio-political economic conditions ng ating bayan,” Brosas said.