Cops start probing 'abuses,' 'lapses' in violent Parañaque demolition

Police have started looking into possible "lapses" and "abuses" in the violence that marred a demolition of stalls at the Silverio Compound in Parañaque City Monday.

 

Southern Police District head Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona said he has formed a district level task force to look into the incident.

 

"Itong bagay kasama sa titingnan ng ating Special Investigation Task Group Silverio, para malaman ang puno't dulo at lapses kung meron man ng ating kapulisan. Inaantay natin ang magiging resulta para sa ating desisyon na susunod," he said in an interview on dzBB radio on Tuesday.

 

At least one person, identified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in its report Monday as Arnel Tolentino, 21, was killed while 39 were injured in the violence that marred the demolition of stalls at the compound Monday.

 

The NDRRMC said that of the 39 injured, 15 were police personnel and 24 were civilians.

 

Estipona said SPD deputy chief for administration Senior Superintendent Rolando Asuncion will head the investigating body.

 

He also said he already ordered the disarming of the Parañaque police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

 

The SWAT members' firearms will be subjected to examinations to determine who fired shots during the violence, including the shot that killed at least one person.

 

"Ang kanilang baril pina-subject for ballistic exam para malaman kung ang tumama sa biktima ay galing sa kanila o sa hanay ng residente," Estipona said.

 

He pointed out their standard operating procedures call for the Civil Disturbance Management Unit or anti-riot police having no firearms during such situations.

 

But he said an initial check of video footage from Monday's incident indicated the policeman caught on camera firing his weapon was from the SWAT.

 

On the other hand, he indicated he was not keen on relieving the city police while the investigation is ongoing, saying the Parañaque police are in no position to influence the probe.

 

"Ang investigation naman ng SITG binubuo ng member ng SPD mismo, at ... hindi natin masasabing makakaimpluwensya ang Parañaque police kasi sa district level ang pag-imbestiga. Asahan natin na kung ano ang totoo ('yon) ang pagtutuunan ng pansin," he said.

 

Clearing ops

 

Estipona said the city's engineering team is scheduled to go to the compound to clear the debris from the demolished stalls on Tuesday.

 

He said the crowd-control police who will secure the clearing team will not be armed.

 

"Ito sisiguraduhin nating may karapatang pwersa ang mag-a-assist sa clearing ... ‘Yan ay makasisiguro nating hindi mauulit ang kaguluhan kahapon," he said.

 

He also said charges are being readied against at least 33 people arrested following Monday's violence. He said 10 police personnel were among the injured.

 

Death toll

 

Estipona also said that while they are still scouring hospitals in the area for possible additional casualties, the death toll remains at one as of 6 a.m. Tuesday.

 

Militant group Kadamay, on the other hand, had claimed the death toll had risen to four, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported.

 

In an article on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site, Kadamay identified the three other fatalities as Bodging Isaias, 16; Rodman Ortega 16; and Raymond Aquino, 36. –KG, GMA News