MANILA – Personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) are facing allegations of abducting and attempting to assassinate Lejun Dela Cruz, a nominee from the Magsasaka party-list, in Cainta, Rizal, on Sunday.
In a statement released on Monday, the party-list organization reported that certain members of the PNP made an assassination attempt on Dela Cruz, and upon failing, resorted to an abduction.
“In a brazen and alarming display of political violence, elements of the PNP attempted but failed to assassinate Magsasaka Party-list nominee Lejun Dela Cruz earlier today (Sunday),” it said in a statement.
“Instead, Dela Cruz was illegally abducted, aggressively beaten, and is now being held in police custody under questionable circumstances,” the party-list’s statement added.
Atty. General Du, the general secretary and legal counsel for the Magsasaka Party-list, noted that Dela Cruz was en route home when an individual approached him under the pretense of inquiring about real estate.
“Noticing a bulge at the man’s waist — suggesting he was armed — Dela Cruz became suspicious. His suspicions deepened when two motorcycle-riding men stopped nearby, also appearing to be armed,” Du said.
“Sensing imminent danger, Dela Cruz started his vehicle — only to be met with a hail of gunfire from the unidentified gunmen,” he added.
According to the party-list, Dela Cruz attempted to flee but was trapped at a dead-end in Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City, by armed individuals who identified themselves as members of the Marikina City Police.
They allegedly handcuffed Dela Cruz and subjected him to brutal physical violence. Du stated that the officers discussed whether to take Dela Cruz to the police station or “execute him on the spot.”
The police presented a purported arrest warrant dated 1992, long after they had already fired upon and pursued Dela Cruz, as reported by the party-list. This warrant was not shown to him prior to the assassination attempt and was only produced after he had been subdued.
“This violent attack is not only a direct assault on one of our nominees but also a grave threat to democracy and the rights of all political activists and marginalized sectors who seek to participate in the democratic process,” it said.
“We demand immediate accountability for the officers involved in this ambush and a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this assassination attempt,” it added./PN
