Cops turn CCTV camera away from drug ops that killed 3

A member of a group of armed men in civilian wear was filmed tampering with a CCTV camera during a raid in which three persons were killed.

According to a report by Chino Gaston on GMA News' Quick Response Team, the camera was not able to record events that led to the death of 60-year-old Rolly Campo during an anti-drugs operation conducted by the Manila Police District (MPD) in Barangay 19, Tondo, Manila on Wednesday.

This included men in police uniforms—who, according to the residents, had accompanied the men in civilian outfits—entering the place where Campo was shot dead.

Campo had reportedly been on the barangay's drug watchlist.

His daughter Ladylyn said policemen sat her father down by a stairwell for questioning.

"Akin na po 'yung tatay ko, sabi ko. Naglalaba lang ho 'yan. Sabi ng pulis, andito siya," Lydia said.

The policemen reportedly told her to leave.

"Sabi niya, sige. Kakausapin ko lang 'yung tatay mo. Umalis ka na. Pagkasalita ng tatay ko na sige na, huwag mo na akong alalahanin. Iniwan ko na siya. Tumakbo na ako palabas," Lydia added.

That was when the police shot Campo, said his young granddaughter, who witnessed the scene.

The little girl also said that Campo was not armed when the officers shot him, nor did he try to fight back, as the police claimed.

"Dinikit po dito, [sa dibdib], opo. Tas pinutok na lang po. Tas sabi ko huwag na lang nilang patayin, ikulong na lang nila kasi naglalaba lang naman 'yun eh, sabi ko sa kanila," the child said.

"Tapos po sabi nila wala daw po silang pake kahit mamatay pa daw lolo ko," she added.

'Patay na asawa ko'

In a separate interview, both Campo's wife Elizabeth and sister Lydia Sioson admitted Campo was a drug user.

Sioson said that she had reprimanded him about it several times. Elizabeth, on the other hand, claimed her husband's drug use in the past was medical, saying it helped relieve Campo's chest and back pain.

Elizabeth also claimed that Campo had been clean for three years and surrendered repeatedly during the onset of Oplan Tokhang.

She also denied the policemen's claim that Campo pulled out a gun first, saying her husband did not own any firearms.

Cops had secured the area for the operation on Thursday while Elizabeth was at an internet shop to watch a soap opera.

"Sana hinuli na lang po nila't kinulong. Di po eh. Hinuli na, kinulong na, binugbog pa. Pinatay pa po sila," she said.

Elizabeth was sure her husband was killed as soon as she heard gunshots.

"Ngayon, nakarining kami ng putok. Kaya sagot ko, 'patay na asawa ko.' Sabi ko, baka asawa ko na 'yung namatay," Elizabeth said.

Two others killed during the operation

Residents were not aware that two other people were killed until after residents, who were told by the police to clear the area for the operation, returned to their homes.

"Ayun po talaga 'yung nararamdaman ko eh. Na agad-agad...ano yun eh, dalawang putok, sa kanya. Tas dalawang putok sa isa, dalawang putok, sa isa naman. Kaya naman anim po," she added.

The two other men were declared dead on arrival as soon as they were brought to medical facilities.

MPD Station 2 declined to give any comment on the raid, which was described on the police blotter as a drug bust operation.

Officers of MPD Station 1 were also under scrutiny for bringing suspects with fatal injuries to the hospital after conducting an earlier drug bust last October 5.

One male and his uncle were shot after policemen in uniform and civilian wear told residents along Herbosa Street, Tondo to clear the area for their operation.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) were not called to investigate the shooting since the victims were supposed to be brought to medical attention as soon as possible.

"Ang atin pong SOP diyan, unang-una, is para po mai-save 'yung buhay ng ating mga...suspect. Kaya po inuuna natin iyan na dalhin sa ospital," said MPD Station 1 chief Police Superintendent Jay Dimaandal.

A Reuters report in June expounded on how police officers would send fatalities to the hospital as a way to avoid crime scene investigations and media attention. In the same report, the NCR Police Office chief Oscar Albayalde denied knowing about such activities.

President Rodrigo Duterte, through an executive order on Tuesday, tasked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the sole agency to conduct anti-drug operations, taking the lead in the campaign against illegal drugs from the Philippine National Police.

On the report, Elizabeth was certain that no justice would come to her husband's death even with the country's drug crimes in different hands.

"Hindi na ho iyan makakamit [hustisya]. Kasi marami na pong nangyayari na wala pong nakakamit," the wife said.

"Hindi pa rin po iyan magbabago hanggang mayroon pa rin pong tao na pinakamataas, hindi po iyan magbabago," she added. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News