THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed homicide, attempted homicide and other charges against policemen and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives over the shootout that killed four people in Quezon City in February 2021.
Facing homicide charges are PDEA agents Khee Maricar Rodas, Jelou Satiniaman and Jeffrey Baguidudol for the death of Police Corporal Eric Elvin Garado.
PDEA operative Romeo Asuncion was charged with homicide over the killing of Police Corporal Lauro de Guzman.
Police Corporal Alvin Borja was charged with homicide for the death of PDEA agent Rankin Gano.
An unidentified man was charged with homicide over the killing of PDEA asset Untong Matalnas.
Attempted homicide charges were also filed against Police Lieutenant Ronnie Ereño, Borja, and Marlon Masiclat, Ronilo Prepose, Jason Corañez, Aries Curit, Marco Tapanan and James Dasalla, all with the rank of Police Corporal, over the wounding of PDEA agents Jeffrey Baguidudol and Martin Matthew Soriano.
Santiniaman was also charged with attempted homicide for the wounding of Ereño.
Policemen Eric Elvin Garado and Lauro de Guzman, PDEA agent Rankin Gano and PDEA asset Untong Matalnas were killed in a misencounter between the police and PDEA on February 25, 2021.
Charges for direct assault with physical injuries, direct assault with less serious physical injuries, and direct assault were filed against Police Major Sandie Caparroso, Police Corporal Paul Christian Ganzeda, Police Lieutenant Honey Besas and several unidentified police officers present during the incident.
Baguidudol was also charged with falsification of official documents while Caparroso, Ganzeda, Besas and several unidentified police officers present during the incident were charged with robbery.
Charged for conniving with or consenting to evasion were Caparroso, Police Corporal Christopher Alvarez, Besas and Ereño.
NBI National Capital Region Director Cesar Bacani said both the police and PDEA committed negligence in their respective operations which resulted in the misencounter.
He said the PNP also used detainee Jonaire Decena as an asset, which is illegal.
The PDEA, on the other hand, seemed to have conducted a sell-bust, which is also illegal, through their asset Matalnas, Bacani added. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)