Re-autopsy of civilians killed in Parañaque clash starts

MANILA, Philippines - One of civilians killed in the Friday firefight between government security men and suspected robbers is undergoing a second autopsy, the Commission on Human Rights said Thursday. CHR chairperson Leila De Lima said that a second autopsy on the body of Ronald Eusebio. Eusebio was a tollway worker who slain in the shootout between elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and suspected members of the Waray-Waray and Ozamiz gangs. The autopsy, De Lima said, was being conducted by independent forensic experts from the University of the Philippines. The autopsy is being conducted at the Philippine General Hospital. Meanwhile, the second autopsy on the bodies of overseas Filipino worker Alfonso De Vera and his daughter 7-year-old Lia Allana were scheduled on December 13. A witness said in an earlier dzBB radio interview that he saw ten men wearing Regional Special Action Force uniforms fire at the Crosswind of the de Veras at close range. “Nakita ko kung paano nila binaril yung sasakyan ni Ginoong de Vera… Kitang-kita ko po mismo. May vest na RSAF. May sampu siguro. Surrounded, lumapit po ang SAF sa Crosswind. Malapit na malapit po… Mga ilang dipa lang po," Indiana said. (I saw how the men wearing RSAF vests fired upon de Vera’s Crosswind vehicle. There were about ten men who surrounded his vehicle. They fired upon the car within close range.) In that interview, Indiana said the de Vera’s vehicle was not even heavily-tinted, and that it was not hard to mistake the victims as among the robbers. “Hindi tinted. May bata po sa loob. May laruan pa ng bata. Kaya nakapagtataka bakit napagkamalan (Their car was not even tinted. They could have easily seen the child inside the car her toys. That’s why we are really wondering why they have mistaken them as part of the robbery groups were after)," Indiana said. Combined operatives from his office and the SAF, Highway Patrol Group, the Southern Police District (SPD) and Naval Intelligence Security Force were trailing the suspected robbery groups on Friday night when the shootout that killed 16 people erupted. SPD chief Senior Superintendent Jaime Calungsod Jr said security forces received a tip that the combined team of the Waray-Waray and Ozamiz groups was planning to rob one of the business establishments along Sampaguita Avenue in United Parañaque Subdivision 4. Apparently sensing the surveillance, the heavily-armed suspects opened fire, triggering the gunfight along Sampaguita Avenue, said the police report. - with Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV