QC shooting incident witness says people tried to pacify police

A witness claims that people near the site of the shooting incident in Quezon City kept telling police officers not to shoot former soldier Winston Ragos since he was suffering from a mental illness.

On Thursday Ivan Mayrina reported on 24 Oras that  "Andy" said he tried to pacify the policemen, including Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo Jr., but they allegedly refused to listen.

“Nakakausap (naman siya) ng maayos. Nakinig pa siya noong sinabi kong ‘taas.’ Sabi ko ‘taas mo kamay mo, ‘wag kang gagalaw.’ Humarap po siya at nagpapaposas po siya,” Andy said.

“Tapos sumisigaw pa rin kami ng ‘wag, sir, ‘wag, sir’ kasi may tama po sa utak ‘yan kaso ‘di kami pinapakinggan po eh,” he added.

Ragos was a former soldier but was discharged in 2017 due to post-traumatic stress disorder. He served the country for seven years.

He was shot dead by Florendo during a confrontation at a quarantine control checkpoint in Barangay Pasong Putik on Wednesday.

Police said they told Ragos to go home as he was violating the enhanced community quarantine but the latter reportedly refused to do so and even threatened the policemen.

Janet Macahilig, Ragos’ sister, denied claims by the police that her brother carried a caliber .38 gun with him during the incident.

“May kapabayaan man po kami, ‘di naman po namin dini-deny, ‘di naman ho namin pinagkaila ‘yon pero ‘yong sasabihin nilang may baril ‘yong kapatid ko, ‘di po totoo ‘yon,” Macahilig said.

Andy also disputed the police’s claim, saying Ragos could not have brought a gun with him.

“Kilala po naming tao ‘yon. ‘Di po nagdadala ng baril ‘yon kaya walang takot sa kaniya dito,” he said.

Ragos’ mother, Merlyn, demanded justice for the death of her 33-year-old son.

Merlyn said the police could have handled the situation better without killing anybody.

“Parang baboy eh. Parang kinatay na baboy (ang ginawa sa’king anak),” she said.

“Mayroon namang paraan na puwede nilang barilin kung saan man o pilayan,” she added.

QCPD-CIDU chief Major Elmer Monsalve said the shooting was a “judgment call” on Florendo’s part.

“Pumutok siya noong humarap na itong suspect na huhugot na doon sa bag ng baril niya. ‘Pag nasa street survival ka, ano ang kasunod? That is your judgment call sa part ng pulis kasi anong gagawin mo kung nahugot at naitutok sa’yo, ikaw ang mamatay,” Monsalve said.

The National Police Commission and the Commission on Human Rights are already investigating the matter. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News