Albayalde orders probe into 3-year-old girl’s death in drug sting

Gen. Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, speaks as the guest of honor at the closing ceremony of a 30-day reform program for 53 erring cops at the School for Values and Leadership Satellite Office in Subic, Zambales. (Photo from the PNP Facebook account)

SUBIC, Zambales, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde has ordered a probe into the killing of a 3-year-old girl who was caught in a crossfire between drug suspects and lawmen in Rizal province.

“That is very unfortunate [but] we will see. We will wait for the outcome of the crime lab results. I have already directed the regional director there to investigate,” Albayalde told reporters here after the closing ceremony of a 30-day reform program of 53 erring police officers.

Rizal province, where the shootout took place, is under the jurisdiction of Calabarzon Police Regional Office, which is headed by Brig. Gen. Eduardo Carranza.

On June 30, 3-year-old Myka Ulpina was killed during a shootout between suspected drug pushers and police officers in Rizal province.

READ: 3-year-old girl hit in drug buy-bust crossfire dies

Albayalde said the suspects could be hired gunmen.

He said one of the suspects, Renato Dolofrina, the father of the slain girl, was the one who fired first at the officers.

“Of course, they had to retaliate,” the PNP chief, speaking in Filipino, said.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)