By Fernan Angeles
MALACAÑANG distanced itself on the case involving the death of peasant leader and peace consultant Randall “Randy” Echanis.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Echanis’ death on Monday, allegedly in the hands of “police forces,” is already being investigated separately by the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation.
The Commission on Human Rights also said it would look into allegations that police officers forcibly took the remains of a person believed to be that of Echanis.
“On matters where there’s police investigations or criminal investigations being conducted it is very difficult for anyone including the President to interfere,” Roque said in an interview.
“He will allow the process to continue and even on the claim of the body because there’s a question about the identity, we now have modern technology that would guide us. I’m sure they can undergo or adopt DNA technology to find out the true identity of the remains.”
Echanis and a neighbor were killed in a rented house in Novaliches, Quezon City on Monday, according to Anakpawis party-list, which Echanis chaired. His wife identified the body as his.
However, police claimed that the 72-year-old Echanis was not among the two victims. They identified the victims as Manuel Santiago and Louie Tagapia.
Echanis’ wife, Erlinda, claimed on Monday night that police forcibly took the remains from a funeral parlor and brought it to another.