THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to assist the mother of the three-year-old child who was killed during an anti-illegal drugs operations should she decide to file charges against the police officers involved.
“Karapatan po ng nanay ng bata na magsampa ng kaukulang kaso, at tayo ay nakahandang umalalay kung kinakailangan na bigyan [siya] ng assistance para maisampa niya ang kanyang reklamo,” PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac said.
(It's the mother's right to file a case and we are ready to assist should she need assistance.)
On Saturday, June 29, three-year-old Kateleen Myca Ulpina was killed in a reported buy bust operation in Rodriguez, Rizal that targeted her father Renato and another drug suspect.
Renato and the other drug suspect were killed after an alleged shootout with the operating policemen.
Senior Master Sergeant Conrad Cabigao, who was the poseur buyer in the operation, was also killed after he was shot by the suspects in the neck.
The policemen claimed that Myca was used as a human shield of his father.
The mother, who refused to be identified, denied this. She said there was no drug bust as they were sleeping when the police barged into their house.
She said she immediately went upstairs along with her other children but Myca did not leave her father. She was hit by a stray bullet.
The mother is seeking justice for her daughter, who was the latest casualty of the administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs according to the Human Rights Watch.
At least 20 police officers including the Rodriguez, Rizal police chief have been relieved from their posts to pave the way for an impartial investigation into the operation.
PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said the firearms of all the involved police personnel will undergo ballistics examination to identify the gun that fired the bullet which killed the child.
Albayalde said he has also ordered Calabarzon regional director Edward Carranza to conduct an in depth investigation of the killing. (SunStar Philippines)