Bullet holes mark the Mitsubishi Adventure van that was reportedly shot up by barangay tanods and later by police officers in Mandaluyong City on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017. (Photo by TETCH TORRES-TUPAS / INQUIRER.NET)
The Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will conduct an investigation into the shooting incident in Mandaluyong City late Thursday, studying whether there were irregularities committed by the police officers involved.
Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said that the IAS, since the incident involved a case of homicide, was duty bound to conduct its own investigation.
“Kung may patay, homicide ‘yon. Kaya kami mag-imbestiga,” Triambulo said in an interview.
[If somebody gets killed, that’s homicide. That’s why we’re investigating.]
The IAS is the unit tasked to investigate erring PNP personnel.
The IAS said it would investigate whether the incident happened in accordance with PNP operational procedures.
“Kasi ang POP [police operational procedures] ginagawa bilang isang measure to ensure na ma-protect ‘yung lives nung mga suspects as well as yung mga citizens at property nila sa lugar sa place nung operation,” Triambulo said.
[The POP is implemented as a measure to ensure that the lives of suspects as well as citizens will be protected, along with properties in the place of operation.]
Specifically, the IAS will look into the liabilty of the police officers who opened fire, as well as their immediate supervisor.
Hours after the incident, Director Oscar Albayalde, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, relieved Senior Supt. Moises Villaceran Jr., chief of the Mandaluyong City Police Station, and 10 of his officers:
- Senior Insp. Maria Cristina Vasquez
- PO2 Nel Lemuel Songalia
- PO1 Alfred Uribe
- PO1 Jave Arellano
- PO1 Tito Danao
- PO1 Mark Castillo
- PO 1 Julius Libuen
- PO1 Bryan Nicolas
- PO1 Albert Buwag
- PO1 Kim Rufford Tibunsay
Mandaluyong police officers and village watchmen reportedly shot at the passengers, including an injured woman, of a Mitsubishi Adventure traveling on Shaw Boulevard near the corner of Old Wack-Wack Road late Thursday.
Two persons died in the shooting, which was said to have been a case of mistaken identity. /atm
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