City Hunter

May 5 2005, 09:02 PM

Heard over the radio na hindi purong SWAT yun mga nasabing blunder na yan. Hindi dumaan sa proper training. Kundi mga ordinary police na nilipat lang sa SWAT. No wonder they shoot first and ask questions later. Blemish na naman sa mga PNP personnel. Sana di na ito maulit.

flipzi

May 5 2005, 09:35 AM

SWAT men shoot family’s van
By Jerry Botial
The Philippine Star 05/05/2005 
 
Three Navotas policemen opened fire on a van they had mistaken for a getaway vehicle of robbers in Caloocan City early yesterday, narrowly missing the driver and 10 passengers.

Police said the Toyota Tamaraw FX van, with license plates TNW-177, was apparently mistaken by Navotas Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) operatives as a getaway vehicle of four armed men who had earlier robbed a bakery in Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City, just over a kilometer from where the shooting occurred.

None of the passengers, among them a six-year-old girl, were reported injured. But their vehicle was riddled with bullet holes and one of its windows was shattered.

The family was reportedly heading for a fiesta in San Pablo City in Laguna.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao ordered an investigation into the incident and announced the possibility of filing administrative and criminal charges against the Navotas policemen.

Camp Crame officials admitted the incident was a clear case of improper conduct of the rules of engagement.

"The PNP will not tolerate carelessness in the organization. We in the PNP are supposed to protect civilians from any harm, and therefore (the) Navotas incident should be investigated," PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said.

It was initially reported that the three Navotas SWAT members — Police Officers 2 Rodelio Ramos, Pedro Reyes and Rigor Lyasol — were apparently out of their jurisdiction since the shooting occurred in Caloocan City.

Bataoil said Lomibao had personally promised to render assistance to the two families left traumatized by the incident.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director General Avelino Razon ordered Northern Police District (NPD) chief Senior Superintendent Raul Gonzales to determine the culpability of the three Navotas policemen.

"I’m awaiting the findings of Gonzales and will carry out punishment depending on his recommendation," Razon said.

Gonzales, for his part, offered his apologies to the families involved in the incident and promised the policemen involved would be investigated for grave misconduct with the possibility of dismissal from the service.

"We apologize for the unfortunate incident. They (the victims) were not at fault," he said.

Gonzales said their initial investigation revealed the Navotas SWAT team were involved in hot pursuit operations against armed men who had robbed a bakery along Langaray street in Caloocan City.

Four armed men reportedly robbed the A&V bakery and got away with P300,000 in cash and valuables.

The Buera and Bagtas families, on the other hand, were on their way to attend a fiesta in San Pablo City when their vehicle was fired upon by the three lawmen.

According to Noel Sanchez, the driver of the van, they made a pit stop at the Shell service station along C-3 Road for a brake fluid refill.

The three policemen approached on foot and fired on the driver’s side of the vehicle while its hood was still open.

Sanchez was lucky enough to survive since he was not inside the vehicle, but paying the bill inside the gasoline station.

The 11 passengers were also fortunate to escape certain death, since they were huddled inside the vehicle waiting for Sanchez to return.

They were reportedly ordered to lie face down by the police officers.

"Nagulat na lang kami. Habang nakataas ang hood ng sasakyan, biglang dumating ang mga pulis na mabilis na nagpaputok pagkatapos, lumapit sila na nakatutok ang mga baril at pinadapa kami (We were caught by surprise. The policemen approached and opened fire at the vehicle even with its hood still open. Afterwards, we were all ordered to lie face down on the ground)," one of the passengers, Raul Buera claimed.

Gonzales added the three policemen apparently took their cue from the bakery’s helper and witnesses in claiming that the robbers boarded a gray colored FX van similar to the vehicle driven by Sanchez.

"Binakbakan nila kaagad (They immediately opened fire). They can only fire when there (is) imminent danger to their lives. So far, initial investigation has shown, there was no such thing. May bata pa d’un sa loob ng sasakyan (there was even a child inside the vehicle)," Gonzales said.

Sanchez, on the other hand, claimed he had tailed a tricycle with armed men on board.

He said the tricycle went in the direction of Letre Road while he proceeded to the gasoline station at the opposite side of the road for a vehicle check-up.

Lucas Bagtas, on the other hand, said their family will be filing charges against the policemen.

The two families left the police headquarters late in the day, still shaken up by the incident.

Gonzalez told the families that the three policemen were ordered disarmed and confined to headquarters.

"They have been disarmed, restricted to office and are under investigation. Let’s wait for the hearings and from the results of the investigation, we will take the necessary action, even file the appropriate charges," he said. — With reports from Cecille Suerte Felipe, Non Alquitran

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What is this?

This is a clear manifestation of recklessness and mediocrity.

Where did these policemen got their training? 

Trigger-happy lang ba? Does it have something to do with the drug problem there? 

Let's hope the PNP Chief through his district officers will remind their men to always go by the book AT ALL TIMES.

The rules of engagement should always be followed to protect the innocent civilians.

Let's hope this incident will not be repeated.

Cops must not be overwhelmed by their emotions when doing their job. Their minds must always stay focused and discerning so that any shot that will be fired will not hit the wrong target.