REPORT ON INVESTIGATED KILLINGS
IN RELATION TO THE ANTI-ILLEGAL DRUG CAMPAIGN
CHR V 2016-0340
On 24 July 2016, accounts of the Paracale Municipal Police relate that a botched buy-bust
operation transpired against two drug suspects. As a result, a dragnet/checkpoint operation was
conducted to block the escaping drug suspects. Upon reaching the checkpoint set-up in front of
the Paracale Municipal Police Station, the police blocked the drug suspects and subsequently
tried to effect their arrest. However, the drug suspect driving the motorcycle allegedly tried to
grab the hands of the arresting officer, while the backriding suspect tried to shoot the arresting
officer. In self-defense, the arresting officer shot the two drug suspects which resulted in their
death. Findings of the police internal investigation on the incident cleared the involved police
officers from any accountability and recommended them for awards and recognition for their
valiant effort.
Signed affidavits of witnesses, and a report from the National Bureau of Investigation, who
also investigated the incident, revealed a different and chilling version. According to documents
secured by the Commission, the two victims were stopped by the police in a checkpoint in front
of the Municipal Police Station. The arresting officer then ordered the victims to alight from the
motorcycle. Upon alighting from their motorcycle, the backrider was immediately shot by the
arresting officer, while the driver was seen kneeling, with his hands raised, when he was also shot
by the arresting officer. Further, witnesses also belied the allegation of buy-bust by the police
operatives as they have seen the alleged poseur buyer already positioned in the checkpoint even
prior to the time of the alleged botched buy-bust incident.
CHR NCR 2017-0028
This pertains to an incident that happened on 16 August 2017 in Barangay 160, Caloocan City
resulting in the death of a minor during an alleged buy bust operation. According to the police
spot report, during the conduct of a One-Time Big-Time Operation or Oplan Galugad, the victim
drew his firearm and shot at the approaching police officers but missed. This prompted the officer
to return fire to prevent and repel the aggression, hitting the victim on multiple parts of the body
resulting in his immediate death.
However, a CCTV footage showed two police respondents dragging the victim. According to
one witness, the victim was about to go home when he was approached and punched in the
stomach by two police officers. The witness also heard him begging and saying “Sir, tama na po,
diyan lang po ako nakatira” (“Sir, stop it already, I just live nearby”). She also witnessed him being
dragged by the two police officers that came at him. Another witness claimed that she saw two
men get off a motorcycle and talked to the victim but did not hear their conversation. The witness
claimed that after a few moments she saw them push and maltreat the victim while saying
“Bilisan mo, Wag Hihinto” (“Go faster, Don’t stop”) while the victim was crying, and they were later
joined by another man. She then saw the victim standing with the three men and thereafter heard
two gunshots.
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