The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP) has recommended that all 13 policemen from Caloocan City involved in a deadly drug raid last week be placed under restrictive custody to protect witnesses.
According to PNP-IAS Inspector General Attorney Alfegar Triambulo, the police officers will be placed under restrictive custody to encourage witnesses to come out.
"Mas maganda kung naka-restricted para lumabas ang mga testigo kung sino pa ang mga may alam at hindi sila natatakot at nadisarmahan na ang mga involved na pulis sa operation, at sila ay na-confine sa kampo at hindi makalabas para matuklasan natin ang katotohanan at lumabas ang mga impormasyon,"
PNP- IAS findings showed lapses in police operational procedure in the raid that claimed the life of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos.
"Sinasabi nga natin ang trabaho ng pulis at mang-aresto, yan ang mission nila ang mang-aresto. Dahil may namatay ibig sabihin, it appears na may lapses dahil may namatay. Yan ay subject ngayon sa evidence," Triambulo noted.
CCTV footage showed Delos Santos was held by police before his death.
However, police claimed they were not the ones captured by the CCTV.
"Yun po yung allegation ng mga operatives, kaya nga pinag-aralan natin ang contradicting statements, witnesses and the PNP personnel na kasama doon sa nag-operate. Evaluate natin kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo ayon po doon sa ibang ebidensiya nakalap natin sa scene of incident," Triambulo said.
The PNP-IAS said they cannot use the autopsy results conducted by the Public Attorney's Office in their investigation. Instead, they will wait for the autopsy results coming from the PNP Crime Laboratory.
"Hintayin natin ang report ng SOCO dahil yan ang nag-process ng scene of the crime. 'Yung kanilang autopsy, ballistics, fingerprint, paraffin, hintayin po natin," Triambulo said.
"Yun yung authority, authorized by law para maging admissible po ang ebidensiya," he added.
The PNP-IAS is set to submit initial recommendations to PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday.
"Ngayon po ay gathering ng ebidensiya. Ang susunod noon 'yung nagga-gather ng ebidensiya, isa-subject pa natin yan ng premilinary pre-charge investigation, titingnan natin kung ang mga na-gather na ebidensiya na nagsasabing may lapses sa operation, kung 'yun ba ay sapat na basehan para idemanda po ang mga operatives ng irregularity in the performance of duty. Ngayon yung depensang lumaban at ang paratang na sinabing pinatay ay malalaman na po during hearing na po kung saan scrutinize na po ang ebidensiya ng ating dalawang panig," Triambulo said.
According to Sen Panfilo Lacson, police officers who conduct drug raids should be in uniform.
"Maski noon pang panahon ko dapat may kasama kung halimbawang intelligence unit 'yung nakakaalam ng lugar eh dapat talaga may kasamang uniformed at saka kapag nagko-conduct o nag-i-implement ng search warrant automatic 'yon mag-ko-coordinate ka sa barangay eh what more kailan talaga may kasama kang unipormadong pulis," Lacson said.
If found guilty, the 13 policemen may be face an administrative case with serious irregularity in the performance of duty.