NBI files murder raps vs. Quirino cops for shooting of cultural community member

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a murder complaint against police officers accused of alleged involvement in the shooting of a member of the Bugkalot-ilongot Indigenous Cultural Community in Nagtipunan, Quirino, the bureau said Wednesday.

In a statement, the NBI said that the murder complaint was filed against seven police officers with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Quirino on August 5 over the shooting of Jim White.

The NBI said that White previously reached a tribal-mediated amicable settlement in his pending criminal cases. 

However, according to the bureau, investigation showed that the cops allegedly staged an ambush-style operation a day before the surrender, resulting in White’s death.

Further, the NBI said that all bullet entry wounds were on his back.

It added that this indicated that he was shot while defenseless, contradicting claims that he fired first.

“The NBI also conducted an on-site investigation in the far-flung mountainous area where the crime occurred and concluded that the killing was executed with treachery,” the NBI said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News