(Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Friday decried what he said was the refusal of Risa Hontiveros’ camp and the Rise Up for Life and for Rights to allow investigators to interview alleged witnesses into the killings of Carl Angelo Arnaiz, Kian Loyd delos Santos, and Reynaldo de Guzman, an act an anti-crime group has said was already tantamount to “obstruction of justice.”
Aguirre said for instance, the investigators looking into the killing of Delos Santos have been asked by Hontiveros’ camp–who are holding three alleged witnesses to that crime— to just write down their questions to the two minors and the 31-year-old.
“Bakit ayaw nila ipaimbestiga?…E di ganyan ang pagtatanong..May nakita ka bang imbestigasyon ng pulis, ng (National Bureau of Investigation), na (kailangang isulat muna ang tanong?),” Aguirre said.
He noted that the alleged witnesses were even placed inside a “glass room” so they could not be reached by the investigators, who he emphasized had the “mandate,” “training,” and “know-how” to investigate crimes in the first place.
Obstruction of justice
According to Aguirre, NBI investigators have also yet to talk to taxi driver Tomas Bagcal despite their two requests to interview him as part of their inquiry into Arnaiz’s and De Guzman’s killings.
The group Rise Up for Life and for Rights has claimed protective custody over Bagcal, who was allegedly robbed by Arnaiz before he was killed on Aug. 18.
“Magdadalawang linggo na. Nadedelay ang investigation,” Aguirre said.
The justice secretary appealed for those holding the alleged witnesses to do something about the delays.
He said the “bishops and priests” holding Bagcal, for instance, should be mindful that there is a provision in the Constitution that provides for the separation of the church and state.
“Appeal ko nga sa mga may hawak ng testigong mga bata at si (Bagcal), umaapela ako kasi as much as possible, we would like to avoid na magkacoercive process o demandahan sa mga humahawak diyan, katulad ng mga obispo at kaparian. Ayoko ngang gawin yun,” he said.
He said he was unsure though if the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption would file charges against those concerned, as he said the anti-crime group believes what those quarters are doing was tantamount to “obstruction of justice.”