Ochoa: Report in Quezon shootout ‘completely erroneous’

EXECUTIVE Secretary Paquito Ochoa on Friday denied authorizing the police operation in Atimonan town, Quezon province that led to the death of 13 people, saying that report published in a national broadsheet was “completely erroneous”.

“I wish to point out though that a news report saying that the Palace okayed the operation is completely erroneous,” Ochoa said in a statement issued to Malacanang reporters.

“The operations plan that was cited in the Inquirer report is a confidential proposal that was not approved,” he added.

A Philippine Daily Inquirer report published Friday said the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) headed by Ochoa approved the operation in Quezon with code-name “Coplan Armado” allegedly targeting only one man – Victor Siman, who died during the clash. Siman was allegedly an operator of illegal numbers game “jueteng”.

The report said the Philippine National Police described the 12 others killed in the shootout as “collateral damage”.

With the involvement of his agency on the issue, Ochoa said he has directed PAOCC personnel to fully cooperate with authorities investigating the matter.

“I share the concern of those who seek clarifications regarding the circumstances that led to the loss of lives, and I am confident that the inquiry to be conducted by the NBI will help produce an accurate account of the events surrounding the shootout,” Ochoa said. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)