Palace assures public: Duterte won’t intervene in Enchanis probe

MALACANANG on Wednesday assured the public that President Rodrigo Duterte would not intervene in the case of slain National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Randall Echanis.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte would leave it to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the killing.

“It’s being investigated now. It’s not just the police investigating it. It’s the NBI now, through the Department of Justice,” Roque said during an interview with CNN Philippines.

“Again, in matters where there’s police investigation or criminal investigations being conducted, it’s very difficult for anyone including the President to interfere. So he will allow the process to continue,” he added.

Roque made the statement after Echanis’ widow, Erlinda, urged Duterte to intervene in the case as the family and police fight over the consultant’s remains.

Echanis and his neighbor Louie Tagapia were found dead inside his apartment in Novaliches, Quezon City on Monday.

The police brought their remains to Pink Petals Memorial Homes in La Loma.

The Quezon City Police District identified Echanis as a certain Manuel Santiago, based on the identification card recovered from the crime scene.

Echanis’ wife, however, positively identified her husband’s body.

Roque said Duterte would let the PNP and NBI exercise their independence as investigators.

“On the claim of the bodies, because there are questions about the identity, we now have modern technology that will guide us if need be. I’m sure they can undergo or adapt DNA technology, DNA science to find out the true identity of the remains na pinagaagawan ngayon [that are being claimed),” Roque said.

“But I think the President as a lawyer will allow the investigation to proceed unhampered,” he added.

Source: TheManila Times