Army expects indictment vs. cops involved in Ragos death

Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay on Friday welcomed National Bureau of Investigation's move to file murder complaint against the Quezon City cops who fatally shot former soldier Winston Ragos in April.

In a press statement, Gapay said the filing of murder complaints against Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo and four other police trainees is "a major step towards justice for our fallen hero, who has given the best years of his life in service to the country."

"The Army expects indictment on all the cases filed and strongly believes that truth will prevail and justice will be served," Gapay said.

"May this initial development bring comfort to his family, and continue to raise awareness on mental health, and the plight of our soldiers who bear invisible scars of war," he added.

Aside from murder complaints, the NBI also filed perjury and planting of evidence complaints against the respondents.

NBI deputy director and spokesman Ferdinand Lavin said the complaints were filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.

Florendo and some police trainees from the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group were manning a control point at Maligaya Drive in Fairview, Quezon City, when Ragos, who was diagnosed with mental illness, arrived and reportedly yelled at them.

The policemen advised Ragos to go home since an enhanced community quarantine was in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he allegedly refused to follow, resulting in an altercation where he was shot by Florendo.

Police claimed Ragos was armed but this was refuted by his relatives. --KBK, GMA News