House probe looms over QC shootout

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives is set to investigate the alleged shootout in Quezon City last Tuesday that led to the killing of three suspected car thieves. Muntinlupa City Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon, who had earlier said he was alarmed by the incident, told GMANews.TV on Friday that he already filed a resolution seeking to probe the incident and determine whether there are flaws in the Philippine National Police (PNP) polices and procedures. "I filed it yesterday [Thursday], HR 1017. It focuses on reviewing the policies, standard operating procedures and rules of engagement of the PNP," Biazon said. Three suspected car thieves were killed Tuesday night in an encounter with operatives from the Quezon City Police District's (QCPD) Anti-Carnapping Group at the corner of EDSA and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Road in Quezon City. In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, House committee on public order and safety chair and Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino said he will begin the investigation as soon as it gets referred to his committee in plenary. Antonino, however, said that based on the video footage showing one of the policemen still firing at a suspect already sprawled on the pavement, the alleged shootout may have been the fault of the police officers involved and not due to flaws in the PNP rules of engagement. "Nakita ko na yung rules of engagement e. Actually okay na yun e [I have read the rules of engagement. Actually that's already okay]," said Antonino. "Talagang labag sa rules of engagement yung ginawa na yun e [What they did was really in violation of the rules of engagement]," he said. National Police Commission (Napolcom) vice chairman Eduardo Escueta had earlier said the police officers involved violated the rule against the use of deadly force against suspects unless their lives are in immediate danger. Antonino said the police were correct in disarming the police officers involved in the alleged shootout. "I think the police has done right in disarming them, and they may be taking measures already which we may find out in the hearing," said the lawmaker. For his part, House committee on human rights chair and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III said he will write the committee on rules requesting that the House investigation be jointly handled by his committee and Antonino's. In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, Tañada pointed out that this is the fourth incident in recent years wherein there may have been abuses on the part of police officers. "If we look at it, this is already the third or fourth big event na nangyari [that happened] where they may have been excesses with regard to police operations," Tañada said, citing previous incidents such as in the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) robbery in May 16, 2008; one in Ortigas; and the latest in Parañaque last December. "Baka kelangan tingan kung dapat palitan na yung rules of engagement or amend it [We may have to look into whether we need to change or amend the rules of engagement]," said the lawmaker. - GMANews.TV