Solons ask for probe on deadly Samar misencounter

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate. Photo from the Makabayan opposition bloc

Opposition lawmakers sought for a congressional investigation into the deadly misencounter between police and army forces in Samar a week ago.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, ACT-Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago filed House Resolution 1983 on Tuesday, directing the committees on national defense, and security and public order and safety to look into the incident.

Last June 25, six police officers were killed while nine more were wounded after a 20-minute “misencounter” between members of the 805th Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the Philippine National Police and “armed men” of the 87th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Sta. Rita, Samar.

The policemen were in the area doing security patrol when they encountered the soldiers.

READ: 6 policemen killed, 9 more hurt in Samar misencounter

The militant lawmakers lamented that while authorities are investigating whether the encounter was caused by lack of coordination, the families of those killed and injured were calling for justice.

“The families of the victims expressed their fears of a cover up or a white wash as President Rodrigo Duterte said that ‘nobody wanted it to happen’ and this was caused by ‘Murphy’s Law’. They fear that the case will be white-washed like what happened with the Mamasapano case,” they noted.

READ: Duterte on Samar misencounter: ‘Nobody wants it’

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said Mr. Duterte is taking full responsibility for the incident “to end the blame game.”

READ: Roque: Duterte takes responsibility for Samar misencounter to end blame game

According to Roque, relatives of the dead policemen have been asking that somebody be held accountable for the incident, thus, the president’s remarks.  /kga