Barangay kagawad shot dead after 30 cops served ‘search warrant’

A barangay kagawad  was killed in his home in Buhi town, Camarines Sur on Sunday night after about 30 police officers allegedly served a search warrant against him, human rights group Karapatan said Monday.

According to Karapatan, barangay kagawad Froilan Saez Oaferina III of Barangay Tambo was inside his home along with truck helpers and drivers when three private vehicles without plate numbers arrived at 6:30 p.m. About 30 lawmen went outside the vehicle to serve the search warrant against Oaferina but witnesses said there was no warrant.

"Naroon daw sila para magserve ng search warrant pero wala rin naman silang maipakita, ayon sa mga witness," Karapatan-Bikol said in its fact-finding report published on Facebook.

(They are there to serve the warrant but they could not show it.)

Subsequently, the uniformed personnel from unknown police stations pointed their guns at Oaferina and his companions while ordering them to kneel. Froilan was then brought to a dark area where he was shot thrice, according to the truck helpers.

In a police report, authorities insisted that Oaferina was a "high value individual," noting that the issuance of a search warrant turned into an armed encounter. The report said the village councilman opened fire "which prompted [police] to shoot the aforesaid suspect."

The search warrant was issued by Iriga City Regional Trial Court Branch 36 against Oaferina for violation of Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, police said.

An unknown caliber of firearm was also recovered from the incident, said police.

Froilan does not own a gun

Karapatan said the councilman's family denied that he owned a gun after police recovered a firearm in the crime scene.

The family also said the gun had no trademark and serial number, Karapatan added.

"Ang sabi ng PNP ay nanlaban daw. Pero sabi ng pamilya, wala silang nakitang baril sa kung saan man nakahandusay ang katawan ni Froilan," Karapatan said.

(PNP said he fought back but the family said they did not see any guns when Froilan was lying on the floor.)

"Doon na sinabi ng SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives) na may na-recover na isang (1) caliber .38 pistol na walang trademark at serial number na may laman na limang bala ng baril,"it added.

(SOCO said they recovered .38 pistol with no trademark and serial number with 5 ammunition.)—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News