Echanis’ wife wants police to return husband’s body to her

August 11, 2020

The wife of Randall Enchanis, Anakpawis chairperson, is demanding that police return the remains of his husband to her.

According to Erlinda Echanis, more than 10 La Loma policemen “forcibly took” the cadaver of her husband around 11:20pm last Monday to return it to the Pink Petal Funeral Homes after they transferred it to a funeral of their choice.

"I condemn the persistent harassment of PNP La Loma-QCPD (Quezon City Police District) and their brazen act of snatching the remains of my husband Randall "Randy' Echanis from us. This morning, I have positively identified his lifeless body which bore torture marks, multiple stab and gunshot wounds,” Echanis said.

The body was taken for alleged absence of a “release order” from the QCPD-Criminal Investigation and Detention Unit (CIDU) office and police asserted that the cadaver was still “under investigation.”

“This adds insult to our injury. It is both inhuman and unjust for the remains of my husband to be held under police custody and deprive us of having a proper and private mourning,” she said.

“Why is my husband’s cadaver under investigation in the first place? It should be the perpetrators that should be hunted down and persecuted, not the lifeless body of my husband!” she added.

Earlier, Anakpawis said Echanis with Quezon City Rep. Kit Belmonte and lawyer Luchi Perez submitted a demand letter addressed to the Pink Petals Memorial Homes to immediately release the body.

The group said based on a death certificate, Randy Echanis suffered from a gunshot wound in his head which caused his death.

Anakpawis said while their quick reaction team was negotiating for the release of Echanis’ remains, a member of the paralegal group, identified as Paolo Colabres, was illegally nabbed by police over alleged “obstruction of justice”.

Police said only the immediate family of the victim can get his remains.

The Quezon City Police District said the victim involved in the stabbing incident was a certain Manuel Santiago despite Echinas’ wife claim.

Police are requesting Echanis' wife to visit the CIDU office to show proof as they are following a process in this kind of incident.

“She should come to the CIDU so that we will know if Manuel Santiago and (Randall) Echanis are the same,” CIDU chief Police Major Elmer Monsalve said.

“They claimed the remains on where the investigator left it… what will they do if the investigator returns? Someone called me saying it is already okay with the CIDU… we did not give a release for it… they should come here first,” he added.

Monsalve said the other victim, Louie Tagapia, was claimed by his family after going to their office to identify and show proof they are related.

Monsalve said they are checking the CCTVs in the area for possible leads.

After the incident, a video posted online showed policemen  guarding the funeral parlor where the victim’s body was placed.

In a statement, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMU) and Anakpawis claimed National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Debold Sinas who is behind the snatching of Echanis’ body.

They accused Sinas of killing hundreds of farmers in Negros province and doing the same in Manila. Ella Dionisio/DMS