Sinas insists cops didn’t ambush Calbayog mayor; region chief says Aquino not on narco list

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas on Wednesday insisted that cops did not ambush Calbayog Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, according to Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras.”

Citing the initial report of the Police Regional Office 8, Sinas said Aquino's security thought the cops, who he said were conducting assessment operations, were following them.

“No, it’s not ambush, okay? [N]apagkamalan ng security ng mayor na ‘yung sasakyan na sumabay sa kanila ay akala nila, ano, nag tamang duda sila na sinusundan sila,” he said.

(“No, it’s not [an] ambush, okay? The mayor’s security thought that the car that was also there was following them.”)

“So according to them, with that apparent reason, binaril ‘yung sasakyan nila. So napilitan sila ngayon mag-respond,” he added.

(“So according to them, with that apparent reason, the mayor's security shot at the car. So [the officers] were forced to respond.”)

Five people were killed in the shooting incident on Monday. These were Aquino, his driver, a security detail aboard the mayor’s van, and two police officers.

The PNP chief said that the cops were conducting red-teaming, an activity that assessed the preparedness of units, as the anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines' New People’s Army neared.

“That is critical ‘yan at malakas ang CPP-NPA activities doon. So part of our activities is to conduct red-teaming, ‘yung ini-inspect ‘yung mga stations para malaman kung ready sila,” he said.

(“That is critical and CPP-NPA activities are at large in the area. So part of our activities is to conduct red-teaming, where stations are inspected to see if they are ready.”)

When asked about the presence of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Integrated Monitoring Enforcement Group (IMEG) in the operation, PRO-8 regional director Police Brigadier General Ronaldo de Jesus said they were there to monitor their fellow policemen.

Meanwhile, De Jesus said the Provincial DEU was involved as they were better informed about the drug enforcement units at the stations.

“Walang anti-illegal drugs operation on the day, talagang red-teaming operations yun,’ he said.

(“There were no anti-illegal drug operations on that day. Those were really red-teaming operations.”)

De Jesus also said that Aquino was not included on the government’s drug watchlist.

“As far as we know, walang ganon. Walang involvement,” he said.

(“As far as we know, there is nothing like that. There is no involvement.”)

The investigation of the special investigation task group is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Mark Aquino, the mayor’s son, said it was hurtful that police authorities were making it seem that a shootout occurred.

“Maliwanag pa po sa ano na ‘yung team ng mga kapulisan, eh, maaga pa lang nandoon na sa area. Noong dumating si mayor, tsaka pinaulanan,” Mark said.

(“It’s clear that the team of police officers were there since morning. When the mayor arrived, they riddled him with bullets.”)

The family also believes that the killing of Aquino was done for political reasons.

“Wala naman po akong nakikitang ibang rason eh,” Mark said, adding that another Calboyag mayor was killed in 2011.

(“I can’t see another reason.”) — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News