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PNP chief: Cop who shot ex-army just following instructions

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa on Thursday, April 23, defended the policeman who shot and killed a former soldier, saying he was just following instructions on what to do when confronted by an armed suspect.

"When you are confronted with a person armed with a pistol, its equivalent is also a pistol...When we are confronted with an armed aggressor or a suspect -- marami na rin kasing namatay na pulis. Actually ang instruction ko talaga ay huwag kayong magpauna," Gamboa said in a television interview.

(A lot of policemen had died. Actually, my instruction is to act first.)

"Nasa tao talaga ang pag-decide. Mabuti sana kung wala kaming experience na we're confronted with an armed (suspect) tapos palagi kaming nanalo... there are a lot of circumstances kasi na talagang pag hindi mo inunahan, talagang madadali ka," Gamboa added.

(It’s up to the policeman to decide. But there have been a lot of incidents where the policeman is killed because he did not act first.)

Gamboa was referring to the April 21 shooting incident that killed Winston Ragos, a former Army soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo Jr. shot and killed Ragos, who allegedly had a gun inside his sling bag, at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at a quarantine checkpoint in Maligaya Drive, Barangay Pasong Putik in Quezon City.

Gamboa said that based on the report submitted to him, two police trainees manning a control point near Maligaya Drive had asked Ragos to go home based on the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) rules.

Ragos, however, confronted the two police trainees, prompting the latter to report the incident to Florendo, who was their supervisor on duty at the time of incident.

Florendo was also informed that Ragos had a gun in his sling bag.

A video clip circulated on social media Wednesday showed Florendo pointing his gun at Ragos while ordering the latter to put his hands up.

Ragos refused to obey, turned his back on the policeman and tried to open his bag.

Florendo then shot Ragos twice, causing his death.

"The policeman was just cautious because he was knowledgeable that the person is armed. But maybe, on the procedure after that, that's what we're going to find out whether the decision of the policeman was rightful," Gamboa said.

PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said there was no need to fire warning shots because Florendo had given Ragos several verbal warnings.

"Sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi naman kailangan ng warning shot at ginampanan ng ating pulis ang naaayon sa police operational procedure. Makikita natin na nagbigay siya ng verbal command, makailang beses siyang nagbigay ng warning, subalit nagbigay pa rin ng mga provocative na mga galaw 'yung suspek,” Banac said.

"Under normal circumstances sana ay puwedeng gawin 'yun... pero sa pagkakataong iyon, sa tingin ng ating pulis nasa panganib ang kaniyang buhay dahil sa kabila ng kaniyang repeated verbal command ay hinahamon pa ng suspek ang ating pulis," Banac added.

A woman in the said video can be heard saying, “Bakit hindi n’yo muna kinapkapan... Wala naming baril yan... Dating sundalo yan may war shock yan.”

A report from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said police recovered a caliber 38 revolver loaded with ammunition from Ragos’ sling bag.

Gamboa assured that a fair investigation is being conducted by the Regional Internal Affairs Service as well as the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.

Janet Macahilig, Ragos’ sister, said the former military personnel suffered from PTSD.

She also maintained that Ragos was unarmed.

“Ayun na nga po napagusapan po namin lahat na tuloy po ang laban para sa katarungan para sa kapatid ko kasi po kailangan po talaga namin depensahan. Ang sa amin kasi katotohanan lang wala po talagang baril ang kapatid ko o kahit na anumang armas sa loob ng bag niya,” she said.

“May maayos naman sigurong paraan para hindi sana humantong sa ganung trahedya namatay po kasi ang kapatid namin namatay na tapos lalabas sa spot report nila may baril ang kapatid ko, hindi po totoo yan wala pong baril ang kapatid ko kahit paulit-ulit niyo kaming tanungin lahat dito wala pong baril wala pong armas na kahit ano,” she added.

Macahilig pleaded for Florendo to tell the truth.

“Sir Daniel Florendo sir ‘yung katotohanan lang po sana makonsensya ka naman. Alam nyo po kung ano ang totoo, alam po namin na gagawa kayo ng paraan para makalusot,” she said.

Macahilig said she was in Manila for a vacation when the ECQ was declared as a measure against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army confirmed that Ragos was discharged from the service after being diagnosed with PTSD.

"In January 2017, Ragos was given a complete disability discharge from his military service, complete with pension and other assistance, after being diagnosed with a mental disorder (PTSD)," the Army said in a statement.

"To a soldier, the wounds of war are not just physical but also mental and their scars are not always visible... The Philippine Army seeks awareness on the plight of former soldiers struggling with mental problems. Even though they are no longer soldiers, they continue fighting a silent and lifelong battle," it added.

Army commanding general Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay has also ordered the conduct of an investigation into the incident. (SunStar Philippines)

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