Police Master Sgt. Daniel Florendo is facing a homicide complaint before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office for shooting and killing a former member of the Armed Forces for violating the coronavirus quarantine.
Quezon City Police Chief Ronnie Montejo said Florendo had already gone through inquest proceedings online.
“We based our findings on the evidence at hand. So whatever evidence we have… that’s what we have decided on for his inquest proceedings,” Montejo said.
He said there was no evidence that could establish a conspiracy among the other police officers who were present during the shooting of Winston Ragos, a retired soldier.
Florendo, along with four police trainees, called Ragos’ attention near a quarantine control point in Pasong Putik village for allegedly violating quarantine rules.
He said he and Ragos had a heated argument, after which he decided to shoot the former soldier.
He said Ragos was trying to pull out a gun from his bag, but Ragos’ relatives denied this.
Legal standards
The Commission on Human Rights said Friday the quarantine rules resulting from the coronavirus pandemic were still bound by legal standards.
“Any warrantless arrest should be within legal ambit, which strictly provides the specific circumstances when it is merited, commission spokesman Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.
“Further, the measures must be strictly motivated by public health reasons and must not be used to target any group or to repress dissent or critics,” De Guia said.
“Needless to say, fundamental rights remain even as some necessary measures need to be taken.”
De Guia says quarantine guidelines underscore the need to respect human rights in the implementation.
“In a state of public emergency, it might be convenient to resort to sweeping measures that provide shortcuts. However, protecting public health entails due diligence and nuancing such that all factors are considered and no human dignity is trampled upon,” De Guia said.