PNP defends QC cops in death of suspect in UV Express heist

The Philippine National Police stood behind the Quezon City policemen who shot dead the arrested suspect in the colorum UV Express heist, saying the officers merely defended themselves after the man allegedly tried to grab the gun from the lawmen.

“What the suspect did falls under the particular provision of unlawful aggression. There is already imminent danger on the part of the police officers. The use of firearms is justified,” PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said in a press briefing on Friday.

Early morning Friday, policemen shot Alfie Palana Turado, alias “Buddy,” the accomplice of a colorum UV Express driver who raped and robbed two women in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, more than an hour after he was arrested in Barangay Obrero at around 2:00 a.m.

The Quezon City Police District said Turado took PO2 Randy Gandingco’s service firearm in a bid to escape from the lawmen. While Turado and Gandingco were grappling for the gun, it went off, hitting the suspect in the neck and chest.

He later died at the hospital while receiving medical treatment shortly before 4 a.m.

But Mayor reiterated that it is the right Turado’s family to file a complaint against the law enforcer who shot their relative.

Mayor also said it is a standard operating procedure for the police to conduct an investigation on police officers using their firearms against the suspect during an operation, especially when the suspect dies from the shooting.

“Once merong shootout, nagco-conduct ng investigation ‘yung territorial unit. Part na rin ‘yon ng police operational procedures,” he said.

Turado, with UV Express driver Wilfredo Lorenzo, robbed and took turns in raping two women, ages 22 and 27, inside the van while driving around from Caloocan to Bulacan last June 10.