Man killed in Calabarzon raids shot while lying on the ground

One of the nine militants killed in separate raids in Calabarzon over the weekend was shot by the police while already lying on the ground, according to a report by Emil Sumangil  on “24 Oras.”

“Nakadapa na po,” Melinda dela Cruz, wife of one of the two killed in Barangay Sta. Ines in Tanay, Rizal.

Melinda said her husband was shot on the foot, but added she did not witness the succeeding scene because she was dragged out of their home.

“Hindi ko na po nakita, sapilitan po akong kinaladkad palayo ng aming bahay,” she said.

Melinda said her husband was not a rebel.  As she grieved, she said she is also at a loss on how to continue taking care of their six children.

“Anim ang pinag-aaral namin, paano pa mag-aaral ang mga anak ko eh wala na akong katuwang sa pagpapaaral,” she said.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Chitadel Gaoiran of the Region 4 public information office  said the raid was conducted based on reports that the suspects were keeping illegal firearms and explosives.  When asked, she also said, the suspects resisted arrest or “nanlaban.”

“Based dun sa report, nagkaroon po ng armed confrontation, ng armed encounter between the suspects at an gating personnel,”  she said.

At least nine activists were killed while six others were arrested in simultaneous police operations in Calabarzon on Sunday, the Police Regional Office 4A said.

Gaoiran earlier said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit 4A, CIDG National Capital Region, Special Action Force, SAF Air Unit with the 202nd Brigade, 2ID and the Philippine Army conducted simultaneous implementation of search warrants against communist terrorists in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal area.

Militant groups denounced the killings against the activists, which they said happened two days after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered law enforcers to kill rebels.

The Commission on Human Rights said it will investigate the incident.—LDF, GMA News