PNP chief orders Internal Affairs to probe 3-yr-old girl’s death in buy-bust ops

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday said he has ordered the Internal Affairs Service to take the lead in probing the death of three-year-old Kateleen Myca Ulpina during a buy-bust operation in Rodriguez, Rizal on June 30.

“I have directed the IAS to take the lead already and expedite the conduct of the investigation, kasi ‘yung una ang naglead diyan was the regional investigation division of the PRO IV-A,” Albayalde said during a press briefing.

“Para mapabilis, although with the directive naman they conduct a motu propio investigation. Pero just the same, nagbigay na rin tayo ng direktiba sa IAS,” Albayalde added.

No results have yet been submitted pertaining to the ballistic examination of the firearms of the 20 Rodriguez policemen involved in the operations, the PNP chief noted. The 20 policemen were earlier relieved from their posts over the death of Myca.

Albayalde reiterated that Myca’s death was very unfortunate.

Myca’s father, Renato, was the target of the buy-bust operation. He and another suspect and a police officer were also killed in the incident.

Police claimed that Myca was used as a “human shield” by her father.

The victim’s mother, meanwhile, belied the claims of the authorities.  —VDS, GMA News