THE two policemen who figured in a "misencounter" that wounded four civilians in Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday night, May 30, 2019, may be held criminally and administratively liable.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said Police Staff Sergeant (PSSG) Arman Tagolimot of Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office and Police Senior Master Sergeant (PSMS) Jose Ryan Sevilleno of Police Station 6 in Cagayan de Oro City, are likely to be placed under preventive suspension while the investigation is ongoing.
Hortillosa said Tagolimot and Sevilleno who both sustained minor wounds after the “misencounter.” Both will probably be restricted but will still report to the police holding unit.
"Kung mapamatud-an nga naa silay sayop pwede sila ma-filan sa criminal ug administrative cases (if the investigation can prove they have committed violations, they may face criminal and administrative charges)," Hortillosa said.
Four civilians caught in the crossfire were wounded, namely, Jaymar Canencia, 29; Mary Ann Ordana,27; Elenita Salinay, 45; and Darlene Eduave, 12.
Investigation showed that Tagolimot was tailing a person wanted for murder in Barangay Puerto.
The man being tailed noticed the police, drew his 38 revolver handgun and shot Tagolimot but the gun misfired, prompting the latter to return fire. Tagolimot accidentally hit a bystander.
Sevilleno, who was in the vicinity, responded to the shooting but Tagolimot mistook him for a criminal, resulting in a shootout. Three more civilians were hit.
Police said the wanted person managed to escape during the shootout.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered six fired cartridge cases believed to be from a caliber 45 pistol, three deformed fired bullets of caliber 45 and five cartridge cases of 9mm caliber pistol.
Hortillosa said investigators are determining whose gun hit the other three casualties.
"Katong sa tambay klaro naman to nga ang police sa Tagoloan ang nakaigo kay ang general rule ana kung dili ka sigurado sa imong target dili gyud ka magpataka og pabuto," Hortillosa said.
(Those who have hit the bystander, it was likely the police from Tagoloan who shot him, because the general rule there is that if you are not sure on your target, you don't recklessly fire.)
"Katong sa tulo ka civilian, i-determine pa kung sa pusil ba ni Tagolimot, Sevilleno or katong suspect ang nakaigo (those who hit the three civilians, it has yet to be determined whether it was fired by Tagolimot, Sevilleno, or by that suspect)," he added.
Need for coordination
Investigators will also look into whether the police operational procedure was breached when Tagolimot failed to coordinate with the Puerto police.
"Mag-operate ka outside sa imong jurisdiction, required gyud mag-coordinate but naay exemptions ani mao na atong tan-awon kung ang gibuhat ni Tagolimot exemption ba sa rules," Hortillosa said.
(When you operate outside your jurisdiction, it is required that you coordinate with the police station in-charge, but there are exemptions and we are verifying whether Tagolimot is exempted from the rules.)
Hortillosa did not elaborate on the exemptions, but said all information are welcome even as they consider the unverified report that the two policemen allegedly have personal grudges against each other.
"Wala pami kadawat ana nga report pero open ang atong investigation nga matuki na siya. May posibilidad na nga naay grudges pero dili na ma-substantiate kung walay motindog," Hortillosa said.
(We have not yet received that report but we are open to including that in our investigation. There's a possibility that these police officers held grudges but this will not hold if no one can substantiate it.)
Police Lieutenant Colonel Reynante Reyes, officer-in-charge of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), has expressed dismay over the incident and ordered investigators to look into the circumstances.
Reyes also assured that all wounded civilians and police personnel will receive assistance.