Albayalde: Pasay intel chief’s case not yet closed

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Tuesday that the investigation on the death of Pasay Police Intelligence head S/Insp. Manuel Tatayon Jr. is not yet over, even if the autopsy reports say bullets from the suspect killed him.

Albayalde, who visited the family of the slain 28-year-old officer on Tuesday, said they would look into allegations that Tatayon was a victim of friendly fire.

READ: Pasay police intel chief killed in shootout with jail escapee

“Tinitignan natin ‘yong angulo na ‘yon, hindi natin dinidiscount na ‘yong gano’n (friendly fire) ay pwede. Although what’s clear here is that ‘yong tumama sa likod niya, based from Crime Laboratory results, ay ‘yong bala na nanggaling sa baril no’ng suspect,” Albayalde told reporters in Pasay City.

(We are looking at the angle here that friendly fire may have hit Tatayon, although based on Crime Laboratory results, the bullet that hit Tatayon came from the suspect’s gun.)

Results of the autopsy conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory Office show that when Tatayon and his men were about to arrest murder suspect Narc Delemios last Sunday at the Don Carlos Revilla Village in Barangay 148 in Pasay City, he was hit by two bullets at the back. However, the suspect was actually in front of him.

This prompted talks that a fellow police officer may have been responsible for his death. Tatayon’s father placed the blame on an older officer, who had some friction with his son before the incident.

READ: Dad of slain Pasay intel chief asks PNP to check possible foul play

However, Albayalde noted that it is possible that Tatayon — who led his men in entering the area — heard a gunshot before he could even draw his firearm. This might have been the reason why the fatal wounds inflicted by the suspect were found at the back, and not in front.

“Kung ikaw ang naunahan, ang instinct mo is to seek cover […] so ang sinasabi ng crime lab, ‘yong dalawang nakuha from the back are those two bullets na nagma-match doon sa nakuha sa baril ng suspect,” the PNP Chief explained.

(When somebody fires first, your instinct is to seek cover […] so what the crime lab is saying is that the two bullets that entered his back were the two bullets from the suspect’s gun.)

“Hindi ito parang duelo, nasa human nature ‘yon ((This is not like a duel. It’s human nature). When you hear gunfire, the first thing that you do is you duck,” he added.

Albayalde also clarified that the bullet entered Tatayon’s body in a slanted manner, which means that he was not fired upon directly. The two other bullets — which may have come from police officers — were not fatal as it only hit muscle tissues.

“‘Yong angle no’ng sa likod, hindi naman ‘yong as in perpendicular, 90 degrees ‘yong pagka-tama. Naka-slant ‘yon, hindi ‘yong naka-talikod ka, tapos babarilin ka perpendicular, hindi gano’n ‘yon, according to the result of the crime laboratory,” he explained.

(The angle is not perpendicular or 90 degrees. It was slanted. So it’s not that he was directly hit from the back.)

“Let us make us things clear here, ‘pag sinabing patalikod, hindi naman ibig sabihin na naka-talikod ‘yong tao tapos babarilin. Pwede kasi siyang naka-side,” he noted.

Despite the reports, the PNP will look into other lapses, which could have saved the officer’s life. Cases may be filed against police officers who were present in the operation if proven that they failed to prevent  Tatayon’s death, according to Albayalde.

“So ito rin ‘yong titignan din natin para ma-correct natin in the future kung ano dapat ‘yong mga reactions natin (We will be looking at this so we can correct these lapses in the future and determine what our reactions should be.) /ee