CHR to probe cop's killing of teenager with special needs

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday said it will launch a motu proprio investigation into the death of a teenager with special needs at the hands of a policeman in Valenzuela City.

CHR spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia said “discovering the truth in the incident should be a priority” due to conflicting accounts of police, eyewitnesses, and the victim’s family.

Over the weekend, 18-year-old Edwin Arnigo was shot dead by a policeman

Police claimed Arnigo was killed during a scuffle after he grabbed the service firearm of one of the cops in the raid, but his mother said this was unlikely as her son was afraid of policemen.

The cop, who was only identified as having the rank of Police Senior Master Sergeant, is now disarmed and under restrictive custody pending investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service.

The CHR stressed that the United Nations-adopted principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials state police “shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms.”

It also said the PNP’s own revised operational procedures categorically prohibit the use of excessive force.

“Pending the results of our investigation, we urge the police force to be more discerning on the use of force during police operations,” de Guia said.

“Every police officer is reminded in their duty to serve and protect life. Use of heavy-handed tactics which are unwarranted and prohibited under PNP operational procedures must be dealt with accordingly,” she added. —Julia Mari Ornedo/KBK, GMA News