MANILA, Philippines — The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Friday said it will be starting its own internal investigation into the shooting incident at a quarantine checkpoint in Quezon City that led to the death of a retired soldier.
“It is very much into the picture already. In fact, we dispatched two investigators. They are now in the thick and thin of the investigation,” Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao told ANC in an interview when asked if their agency will probe the shooting incident.
“The family expressed their preference that Napolcom should handle the investigation,” he added.
On April 21, retired Army Cpl. Winston Ragos was shot by Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo, who is assigned at the Fairview Police Station. Florendo was manning the checkpoint along Barangay Pasong Putik, Quezon City with four police trainees.
Police said that prior to the shooting, Ragos reportedly refused to follow orders from the officers at the checkpoint and violated quarantine rules. According to a police report, during his argument with the checkpoint personnel, Ragos reportedly pulled out a gun from inside his sling bag. This prompted Florendo to shoot him, police said.
In the wake of the incident, the Philippine National Police (PNP) also initiated its own probe, through the PNP Internal Affairs Service.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP Deputy Director for Operations said Florendo merely acted in self-defense after learning that Ragos was armed.
Casurao however assured that Eleazar’s opinion does not reflect the official stand of the PNP on the incident.
“They were asked for their opinion, they expressed their opinion. But that does not reflect the official stand of PNP,” he said.