Police fired fallen passengers' guns in Atimonan shootout — NBI report

(Updated 10 a.m. Feb. 7) Policemen involved in the January 6 bloodbath that left 13 people dead at a checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon were seen firing the fallen men's guns – "one by one into the air and other directions.” This was according to the National Bureau of Investigation in its report expected to be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III Thursday, a portion of which was obtained by GMA News. Senior Inspector John Paulo Carracedo, who was among the group seen firing the guns, was also heard shouting “i-clear na natin, i-clear na natin” after the second of the two volleys of gunfire. Even as NBI had yet to wrap up its investigation, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima earlier told reporters that she believed the bloody encounter was "definitely not a shootout." The NBI report, however, said the first shot came from the SUVs of those killed. “Subsequently, several policemen approached the two SUVs and shouts were heard 'BABA, BABA BINTANA.' Suddenly, gun shots rang out apparently emanating from the said SUVs. Immediately, PNP personnel fired their guns towards the two SUVs,” the report said. The 300-page report also said: “Some of them (witnesses) have also seen PSI CARRACEDO taking a bag from the said SUVs.” This testimony could bolster the claim of the daughter of one of the slain men that her father was carrying cash when he and his 12 companions were allegedly ambushed by a composite police and military team at the checkpoint. Christine Consemino said her father, Police Superintendent Alfredo Perez Consemino, was also a businessman who owned a security agency in Quezon and was bringing P5 million in cash to a client as bond at the time of the incident. The supposed money, however, vanished. GMA News tried to reach Carracedo through Superintendent Hansal Marantan, the team leader of the team at the checkpoint, but Marantan said Carracedo has been advised by his lawyer against issuing statements regarding the issue. Law enforcers manning the checkpoint claimed the men were killed in an encounter connected to an operation targeting members of a gun-for-hire syndicate. Witnesses, however, said the victims, which included two active policemen and environmentalist Jun Lontok, were ambushed. The “24 Oras” report said it was not clear what the contents of the bag that Carracedo allegedly took were. A separate "24 Oras" report said the NBI, the main agency tasked to investigate the case, postponed the submission of its report to President Benigno Aquino III to Thursday so it could add more annexes. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had earlier said that the report would be submitted to Aquino on Wednesday. — with Carmela Lapeña /KBK/LBG/HS, GMA News