MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Nine members of the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) could face administrative charges for allegedly violating human rights and police operational procedures during the Parañaque shootout last month that left 15 people dead, a police official said on Tuesday.

The Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) found that members of a composite police team failed to follow some basic police operational procedures in the shootout in Parañaque City last December 5, resulting to the death suspected robbers and civilians, said Director Jaime Tagaca, inspector general of IAS, in a press conference.

The following HPG members are facing administrative charges for neglect of duty and grave misconduct: Chief Inspectors Joel Mendoza and Lawrence Cajipe; Inspector Gerardo Balatucan; Police Officers 3 Jolito Mamanao Jr. and Fernando Rey Gapuz; Police Officers 2 Eduardo Blanco and Edwin Santos; and Police Officer 1 Josil Rey Lucena.

Meanwhile, PO1 Elybeer Cayaban, also from the HPG, will be facing administrative charges for alleged violation of human rights after ballistic tests revealed that an empty shell of his service caliber .45 pistol was found “more or less four meters” away from the body of Alfonso de Vera, one of the civilians killed in the encounter.

But Tagaca was quick to add that they were not concluding it was Cayaban who shot and killed de Vera.

“I am not saying that Cayaban was the one who actually shot Mr. De Vera. That will be determined by the proper courts. What I’m saying is that the quantum of proof needed for probable cause for the filing of administrative case is sufficient,” he said.

Tagaca specifically said that police failed to “sanitize” the area of the shootout, possibly preventing civilian casualties.

“Based on the investigation conducted by the IAS personnel, the team of Chief Inspector Mendoza was already in the area [before the shootout]. Their mission was to isolate, sanitize, the area,” Tagaca said.

“What do we mean by sanitize? Anybody with no business entering the operational area, cannot enter the operational area. So restricted the area was restricted,” he said. “Unfortunately, the car of Engr. De Vera was able to penetrate the barrier. So they failed in their mission to sanitize the area.”

IAS also noted that police failed to cordon off the area to prevent civilians from being caught in the crossfire.

National Capital Region police office (NCRPO) Director Leopoldo Bataoil welcomed the results of the PNP investigating body but said that it would be up to the families of the victims and the National Bureau of Investigation to determine if criminal charges would be filed against the policemen.

At the same time, Bataoil said that five alleged members of the Waray-Waray robbery group have now been charged with robbery in band by the different police district directors in Metro Manila. Bataoil identified the five as Leo Barrios, Richard Adilan, Rolando Osorio, Ariel Bundaon, and Jake Castro.

Bataoil also cited four recommendations for every succeeding police operation to prevent similar incidents from occurring:

• Designate an area commander and assistant commander for every police operation;
• Police blocking forces should be in uniform;
• Police vehicles should have countersign or symbols;
• Preservation of crime scene should be observed at all times.