Cops shoot army vet dead; kin say he was unarmed, had mental issues

A man, who identified himself as a retired military personnel, was shot dead by a cop manning a community quarantine checkpoint in Quezon City on Tuesday.

The Quezon City Police District on Wednesday identified the victim as Winston Ragos, 34.

The suspect was identified as Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo, assigned at the Fairview Police Station.

The incident happened less than a week after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military and the police to be prepared to strictly enforce social distancing and curfew measures amid the threat of COVID-19.

Duterte has also repeated his order for policemen to defend themselves even with lethal force when necessary.

Both the AFP and the PNP indicated that they were ready to follow Duterte's orders in strictly enforcing quarantine measures.

Initial investigation showed at 2:30 p.m. of April 21, Florendo and some police trainees from the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group were manning a control point in Maligaya Drive, Barangay Pasong Putik when Ragos arrived and shouted at them.

The cops advised Ragos to go home due to the enhanced community quarantine but the latter ignored them and instead identified himself as a former member of the Philippine Army.

Ragos allegedly attempted to pull out a weapon, prompting Florendo to shoot him.

"Ba't 'di n'yo muna kinapkapan," a woman was heard crying in the video after Ragos was shot and slowly fell.

The victim was brought to Commonwealth Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.

Authorities found a caliber .38 revolver loaded with ammunition inside Ragos' sling bag.

The QCPD said Florendo surrendered to authorities and yielded his service firearm.

Investigation is being done to determine the possible criminal or administrative liability of Florendo.

"Masasabi kasi nating ‘judgement call’ yung naging aksyon ng ating pulis laban sa suspek na armado din ng baril kaya nagawa niyang paputukan. Gayunpaman, pinaiimbestigahan na natin ang naturang insidente," QCPD chief Police Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo said.

According to Dano Tincungco's report on "24 Oras", Ragos' loved ones denied that Ragos had a gun with him.

What he had, said a sister, was schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Walang ginagawa yung kapatid ko. Akala nila bubunot, wala naman pong bunbunutin. Wala pong armas," the sister told GMA News.

Ragos' last assignment in the military was in Marawi. —AOL/NB, GMA News