Difficult for Duterte to interfere in Echanis case – Palace

August 12, 2020

Malacañang said on Wednesday that it is difficult for President Rodrigo Duterte to intervene in the case of slain National Democratic Front peace consultant Randall Echanis.

In an interview by CNN Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said aside from the police, the National Bureau of Investigation is investigating the killing of Echanis, chairman of  the Anakpawis party-list.

"On matters where there's police investigation or criminal investigation being conducted, it is very difficult for anyone, including the President, to interfere," he said.

Roque said Duterte will allow the process to proceed.

He also noted that there is also a question over the identity of the body recovered.

"We now have modern technology that would guide us. If need be, I'm sure they can undergo or adopt DNA technology, DNA Science to find out the true identity of the remains that are being claimed now. But I think the President, as a lawyer, will allow investigators to proceed unhampered," Roque explained.

Despite the identification made by Erlinda, Echanis' wife, on the person who was killed in his Novaliches, Quezon City home on Monday, the police got the activist's body after they found an identification card with a certain "Manuel Santiago" from it.

Erlinda appealed to Duterte to intervene. Celerina Monte/DMS