PNP forms board of inquiry to probe misencounter in Samar

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday formed a board of inquiry to investigate the "misencounter" between Army troopers and policemen in Samar.

The body will be led by the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Visayas Director Rolando Felix, said PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has also directed Police Regional Office 8 director Chief Superintendent Mariel Magaway to expedite the release of benefits to the bereaved families.

The board of inquiry will be a separate body from the Special Investigation Task Group that has been formed on Monday.

Durana said the SITG will conduct its own fact-finding investigation on the incident in coordination with its counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"Ang board of inquiry will definitely closely coordinate with their [Armed Forces of the Philippines] counterparts," he said.

"The board of inquiry will not only look into the incident itself but look into the operational strategic ramification of the incidents so that this kind of unfortunate incident will not happen in the future," Durana added.

Elements of the 805th Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8 were conducting minor combat operations on Monday at around 9:27 a.m. when it was fired upon by the elements of the Philippine Army's 87th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Lunoy in Barangay San Roque, Santa Rita, Samar.

Six policemen, who all had a rank of Police Officer 1, were killed, while nine others were wounded following the misencounter.

At the same time, he directed all concerned PNP Units to extend utmost cooperation and assistance to the Special Investigation Task Group that was created to conduct a fact-finding investigation of the incident in coordination with AFP counterparts. — MDM/RSJ, GMA News