Mandaluyong shooting a 'mistake' on part of police, Dela Rosa admits

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday admitted that the shooting incident which left two individuals dead in Mandaluyong City was a "mistake" on the part of the police.

"Inaamin namin, palpak talaga 'yon. Dapat managot ang dapat managot," Dela Rosa told Balitanghali in an interview.

Two persons, including Jonalyn Ambaon who was a victim of the prior shooting incident, were killed on Thursday night after security officers opened fire at a vehicle they thought was a getaway car of a gunman in a separate shooting incident.

It was later revealed that the vehicle was carrying Ambaon to the hospital after she was shot by an LPG delivery man after trying to intervene in an argument.

But the responding police officers were told by watchmen that the vehicle was carrying an armed suspect, causing them to open fire.

Dela Rosa said the incident was not a case of "mistaken identity" but of a "false report."

"Maling impormasyon ang binigay sa pulis, dahil yung mga partisan, na-involve sa away," he said.

"Basta naloko sila sa report na yun, mali yung impormasyon na ibinigay sa kanila, talagang sinadya na mali kasi kalaban ang nagreport," he added.

Dela Rosa defended the police and said that during an ongoing shooting incident, they cannot determine anymore where the shots are coming from.

"Sa party ng pulis, pagdating mo may putukan na, hindi mo na ma-determine kung may putok na nanggagaling sa loob ng sasakyan, so napakahirap kapag ikaw ay nandun sa area," he said.

"Kapalpakan yun at hindi yung borne out of kasamaan na talagang pinatay yung tao. Mananagot pa rin sila," he said still.

Ten policemen and two of the four barangay watchmen involved in the shooting incident have already been ordered detained after the filing of homicide and frustrated homicide complaints against them.

"'Yung administrative naman, pagtanggal sa kanila sa pwesto, pag-suspend or whatever, depende na yan sa rekomendasyon ng IAS (Internal Affairs Service)," he added. —Erwin Colcol/ALG, GMA News