ILOILO City – The families of seven slain individuals, allegedly members of the National Democratic Front (NDF), have elevated their war crimes case against Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials to the Supreme Court.
The case, dismissed by the Ombudsman in 2019, stemmed from a joint PNP-AFP operation in Antique on August 15, 2018, where Felix Salditos, Peter Mecenas, Jayson Talibo, Liezel Bandiola, Jason Sanchez, Eldie Labinghisa, and Karen Ceralvo died.
Authorities claimed they were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who died in a firefight after resisting arrest.
However, the NDF alleged that the seven were unarmed staff members taken into custody and subsequently killed.
Autopsies conducted by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reportedly showed signs of blunt force trauma unrelated to gunshot wounds, indicating physical abuse before their deaths.
In August 2019, the victims’ families filed a complaint with the Ombudsman, citing violations of Republic Act No. 9851 (Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity) and charges of murder.
They also sought the production of police and military records from the operation.
The Ombudsman dismissed the complaint, citing insufficient evidence and upholding the “presumption of regularity” in the actions of state forces.
In their petition for certiorari filed before the Supreme Court on January 3, the families, represented by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), urged the high court to reverse the dismissal.
They argued that forensic evidence substantiates their claims and that the refusal to subpoena crucial records hindered justice.
They also accused the government of failing its duty under domestic and international law to thoroughly investigate and prosecute alleged human rights violations.
The families cited the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), signed by the Philippine government and the NDF in 1998, as well as international humanitarian law, which prohibits the killing of civilians or those no longer participating in hostilities.
Human rights group Panay Alliance Karapatan called on the Supreme Court to uphold the country’s legal obligations and ensure accountability for state forces.
The group also appealed to the public to support the families’ quest for justice, emphasizing that the pursuit of truth and accountability is vital in combating impunity.
The families remain hopeful that their appeal will lead to a fair investigation and prosecution, ensuring that the so-called “Antique 7 Massacre” will not fade into history without justice./PN
