A COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) 7 investigator yesterday asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to submit records of their operation in Compostela town last week that killed a robbery suspect and three of his alleged accomplices.

CHR 7 investigator Primo Cadampog asked NBI to submit the operation records, including crime scene and autopsy reports, to determine whether agents violated
procedures.

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Robbery suspect Alvin Flores and three of his men were killed in last week’s operation.

Cadampog, in a phone interview yesterday, said the fact that agents were wearing masks raised questions on the operation.

Cadampog said the other day that their initial conclusion was that the operation was legitimate since the NBI agents had arrest warrants for Flores and alleged gang member Rene Batiancila.

“It’s not proper for them to wear bonnets in an operation since it would only put their motives in question,” said Cadampog.

He said that to him, the masks were not needed because the NBI agents were only out to serve arrest warrants. But, he clarified, the agents may have had their reasons to wear the masks.

Cadampog said they are still looking for witnesses to the incident.

Allegations have been raised that the operation was a rubout.

Flores and three men were killed during Thursday afternoon’s shootout in a beach house in Barangay Estaca, Compostela.

Batiancela survived the shootout and is now detained in Manila.

Flores is accused of leading a gang that is responsible for a brazen daylight robbery of a watch store in Greenbelt 5 last month.

Meanwhile, police have beefed up intelligence monitoring and intensified random checkpoints after receiving information about the arrival of a robbery gang last Tuesday.

A round-the-clock checkpoint in Cebu City has been initiated as one of the “pre-emptive, pro-active” measures of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) against the robbery gang.

CCPO Director Patrocinio Comendador said the information did not specify the exact location of the group’s target. He said that according to their tip, the robbery gang is planning to target a “big-time” establishment in Cebu.

He said the CCPO has alerted malls, financial establishments, pawnshops and banks about the report so that they can also enhance their security measures. (JKV/JTG)