PNP sees need to review police procedures after kid’s death in crossfire

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Monday he sees the need to review police procedures during operations after the death of a three-year-old child caught in the crossfire between two suspects and anti-drug operatives.

Myca Ulpina died of a gunshot wound on the head during the June 29 buy-bust in Rodriguez, Rizal that also led to the death of her father Renato, another suspect, and Senior M/Sgt. Conrad Cabigao, who was the poseur buyer in the drug sting.

Ulpina was not the first “collateral damage” in the government’s drug war; hence, the need to review police operations, Albayalde said during a chance interview with reporters.

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

Albayalde said he ordered top PNP officials during a command conference on Monday to show the videos of the police operations that went awry during training for new recruits so they could develop “better discernment,” especially when they are on the field.

“Ito ay tinatawag nating lessons learned that need not be repeated. Ito ‘yung iniiwasan natin na may collateral damage, lalong lalo na [dahil] ito ay bata,” he said.

(This is what we call lessons learned that need not be repeated. We want to avoid collateral damage, especially since the person killed was a child.)

Albayalde said he also ordered the regional police to conduct an in-depth investigation on the operation and vowed that the PNP will not tolerate wrongdoing among its ranks.

Twenty police officers, including the chief of police of Rodriguez, Rizal, have been relieved from their posts pending a probe on the incident. They have surrendered their firearms for ballistic examination to determine the gun from which the bullet that killed the child came from. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

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