MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Marikina said it is coordinating with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the killing of 23 year old construction worker Kim Ramos, who was shot by a police officer.
“We are coordinating with the CHR. From their findings, that is when we will know our next action,” Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said in Filipino at a statement on Monday.
“Why CHR? We are hoping that this will become an independent investigation where there will be no cover-up. Only the truth will come out in their investigation,” he added.
Ramos was shot dead by Corporal Herjonner Soller, who is a member of Marikina Police Intelligence Unit on October 5. Ramos’ friend Layro Legarde was wounded in the incident.
Legarde was shot in the stomach during an alleged gun scuffle with the police.
Teodoro said they will not stop digging for truth behind Ramos’ death as he vowed justice for Ramos’ family.
“We will not stop until we find out the truth in the incident. We will make sure that justice will be served for Ramos’ death,” he said in Filipino.
‘No gun scuffle’
Teodoro paid a visit to Legarde, who was confined at Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center where he learned about more details in the incident.
Lagarde disputed that no gun scuffle happened as the law enforcer pointed a gun directly at them.
Lagarde narrated that he had just finished playing basketball with Ramos when Soller arrived onboard a motorcycle and called them drug addicts.
“The policeman suddenly called us, ‘You drug addicts, stop using illegal drugs.’ then he left the area,” Lagarde said in Filipino.
On their way to an eatery, Lagarde said they spotted the policeman and confronted him.
“I told him, ‘Why are you calling us drug addicts?” Lagarde said.
The policeman pointed the gun at them where Lagarde shoved the gun and hit his stomach, Lagarde said.
Lagarde said when Ramos tried to escape, the policeman shot Ramos in the head.
“After that the policeman pointed his gun at us. I shoved the gun which hit my stomach. Ramos and I tried to run but the policeman shot Ramos in the head. The policeman was just five steps away from Ramos,” he said.
Marikina police chief Col. Restituto Arcangel told INQUIRER.net in a text message that the investigation into Ramos’ killing is the “right thing to do.” /je