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PNP chief questions timing of report accusing Manila cops of executing 3 Tondo men


Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa questioned Tuesday the timing of the release of the report of wire news agency Reuters accusing Manila police officers of executing three men in Tondo, Manila.\

Dela Rosa noted the Reuters report was published more than a month after President Rodrigo Duterte issued a memorandum removing PNP from the lead role in the government's controversial and deadly war against illegal drugs.

“Tina-timing nila. Saka nila nilalabas yung mga ganon, damaging reports about the PNP kung kailan tayo babalik. Ibig sabihin, yung mga kalaban natin, ayaw talaga tayong pabalikin sa war on drugs,” he told reporters before the start of the Supreme Court oral arguments on the anti-drug campaign.

“Ibig sabihin kung ngayon lang lumabas, they have been preparing, researching nang husto at tina-timing nila ‘yung oral argument sa SC saka nila pinalabas. Para ano pa,” he added.

He said he has yet to see the security footage but  he already ordered a probe as he assured the public that there will be no cover-up.

“Hindi ko pa nakita. Wala tayong iko-cover up,” he said.

The police operation, itself, actually happened on October 11, or a day after Duterte issued the memo. Asked why the police officers still conducted the anti-drug operation despite the memo, Dela Rosa said the order has yet to be officially released to the police stations that time.

Manila Police District director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel said they received the presidential directive on October 14.

In his memorandum, Duterte told law enforcement agencies, including the Philippine National Police as well as all ad hoc task forces, to let Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency "as sole agency" to conduct anti-illegal drugs campaign and operations.

A report by wire news agency Reuters stated that they obtained security camera footage showing a different story on a police operation conducted on October 11 in Barangay 19.

Reuters cited a report that stated Rolando Campo sold drugs to an undercover officer, who signaled for back-up. Campo allegedly sensed the presence of the police officers and ordered Sherwin Bitas and Ronnie Cerbito to fire at the cops.

The three were fatally wounded and were immediately brought to the hospital, according to a police report.

But footage showed that Campo was talking with some people before the police arrived. Bitas’ wife, Arlene Gibaga, who witnessed the incident, said the three men were unarmed when they were shot by the police, the Reuters report said.

Footage earlier aired by GMA News showed a police officer reaching up and turning away the closed-circuit television camera during the operation. — MDM, GMA News

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