THE Manila Police District said it would investigate allegations their policemen executed three men in a recent police operation in Tondo.
“We will conduct an in-depth investigation regarding the said incident but of course due process of law and presumption of regularity in the conduct of our police operational procedures will be followed,” MPD spokesperson Supt. Edwin Margarejo said in a press statement.
But Margarejo said the police officers involved would be charged if found liable.
“And if evidence warrants against those personnel involved, we will file the necessary charges against them,” he said.
“The MPD leadership, under Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, assured our constituents that we will always continue to protect, respect, and fulfill our human rights obligation,” he also said.
Wire news agency Reuters reported they obtained security camera footage showing a different story on a police operation conducted on Oct. 11 in Barangay 19.
Reuters cited a report that stated Rolando Campo sold drugs to an undercover officer, who signaled for back-up.
Campo allegedly sensed the presence of the police officers and ordered Sherwin Bitas and Ronnie Cerbito to fire at the cops.
The three were fatally wounded and were immediately brought to the hospital, according to a police report.
But footage showed that Campo was talking with some people before the police arrived.
Bitas’ wife, Arlene Gibaga, who witnessed the incident, said the three men were unarmed when they were shot by the police, the Reuters report said.
Footage earlier aired by a television station showed a police officer reaching up and turning away the closed-circuit television camera during the operation.