PNP maintains no rubout in death of 8 in Cavite

Eight alleged members of a holdap gang was killed by operatives along Lilit road, Silang Cavite.  JOAN BONDOC/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—Still not a case of rubout.

After the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has found irregularities in the May 27 shooting incident in Cavite, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has maintained that the police operation was not a setup.

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office (PIO) chief, said in a press briefing on Monday that there was “nothing suspicious” in the encounter of policemen with alleged notorious robbery gang that killed eight alleged gang members in a remote area between the boundary of Amadeo and Silang, Cavite.

“It was done with regularity. Walang nakikitang kaduda-duda,” Sindac said, when asked if there were policemen relieved in Cavite amid the rubout claims.

In a previous Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Rizaldy Rivera, senior agent of the Death Investigation Division of the NBI, said “based on the medico-legal report and the position of the bodies when (the suspects) were shot, it’s hard to believe there was a shootout.”

According to Rivera, relatives of those killed claimed that the shooting incident was a rubout and was done by  Cavite policemen to “reinforce their promotions as part of their accomplishment report.”

Relatives said the eight alleged gang members were merely victims of the setup, saying one of those killed was a student only invited to attend a fiesta in Cavite.

Sindac challenged anew the relatives to “present evidence in a proper forum.”

“The PNP is ready to face and answer any allegations that the encounter was not a legitimate operations,” he added.

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