Kin cry ‘rubout’ in killing of 8 in Cavite

The National Bureau of Investigation has seen some irregularities in the reported May 27 shootout where eight members of an alleged notorious robbery gang were killed by policemen in a remote area in Cavite. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The National Bureau of Investigation has seen some irregularities in the reported May 27 shootout where eight members of an alleged notorious robbery gang were killed by policemen in a remote area in Cavite.

“Based on the medico legal report and the position of the bodies of the suspected robbers when they were shot, it’s hard to believe there was a shootout,” according to Rizaldy Rivera, senior agent of the Death Investigation Division of the NBI.

Rivera said the victims’ relatives claimed that what happened was “a setup and a rubout.”  He added that they accused the Cavite police force of deliberately killing the eight men at the boundary of Silang and Amadeo towns on May 27 at 1:30 in the afternoon.

“They claimed their relatives were lured to go to that area where the supposed encounter took place,” Rivera said.

He said the parents of one of the victims, 23-year-old Jon-Jon Flores, had asked the NBI to investigate the deaths of the eight.

“The mother claimed her son was a student and not a robber, and was only invited to attend a fiesta when he was killed in the alleged shootout,” Rivera told the Inquirer.

Rivera said that based on the statements of the relatives, the eight men were victims of a setup by a police informant.

“According to the relatives, the shootout was meant to reinforce promotions for the policemen as part of their accomplishment report,” Rivera said.

“We still have to conduct our own forensic examinations,” Rivera said.

He added the NBI was looking for a “Ben,” who had reportedly invited the slain men to a fiesta in Silang.

The Philippine National Police earlier said there was no rubout and the encounter was legitimate.