19-year-old drug suspect shot dead by tanod in QC

A 19-year-old drug suspect was shot dead by barangay officers in Congressional Avenue in Quezon City, GMA News' Emil Sumangil reported on 24 Oras on Tuesday.

The report said Julito Micoleta was eating in an eatery on August 29 when a group of men approached and shot him on the back.

"May dumating na isang tanod, ang pangalan ay Fernando. 'Yun ang may dalang baril po tapos hinawakan na po anak ko," said Milagros Micoleta, Julito's mother.

Milagros said the barangay officials had no reason to shoot her son as he did not put up a fight when he was approached.

"Naka-hands up na siya, parang suko na talaga siya. Tapos nung pagkasalita po niya na 'suko na ako,' tinawag 'yung pangalan ko, 'mama...' doon na bumagsak. Pagkakita ng mga tao kala nila laway 'yung lumabas 'yun pala bala na," she said.

The report said some residents witnessed the incident.

GMA News went to Ramon Magsaysay barangay hall, but Chairman Epoy Fermalino was not there at that time to give a statement. The CCTV footage of the incident was also not shown to the media.

The desk officer, however, confirmed that one of their officers was named Fernando.

The report added that a shooting incident was recorded in Quezon City Police District station 2, but the suspects were unidentified.

Meanwhile, Julito's parents admitted that their son was a drug dependent although they said that does not justify killing him.

"Mga bata po talaga, nakakagawa ng hindi maganda dahil siguro sa pinagbabawal na gamot," Milagros said.

Both parents are seeking justice for Julito's death.

"Hindi ko po matatanggap... hindi ko po matatanggap ang pagkamatay ng anak ko. Binaril nang walang kalaban-laban," said Norberto Micoleta, Julito's father.

"'Yung mga ganyan na barangay captain huwag nilang anuhin mga tao nila, papadala ng baril, checheck-up-in bago mag-roving. Kasi po malalakas loob nila eh," he added. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News