Farm caretaker: It was a shootout

MANILA, Philippines - A prawn farm caretaker who claimed to have witnessed the controversial shooting incident in Atimonan, Quezon that left 13 dead has insisted it was a shootout.

Rolando Vico Jr. claimed the first shots were fired from the lead vehicle that was part of a convoy of two Montero sport utility vehicles bearing alleged jueteng lord Vic Siman and 12 others.

Vico made the claim in a press conference organized by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) in Quezon City yesterday.

Speaking in Filipino, Vico said he was about 30 to 35 meters from the police checkpoint when the first shots were fired, hitting the police officer in civilian clothes who stopped the SUVs.

In his sworn statement submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Vico said after the first volley of fire, around 30 police and military officers sprayed the lead vehicle with bullets.

 Vico’s statement contradicted earlier reports that said the first shots were fired by the police officers manning the checkpoint.

The witness insisted he was telling the truth as he was working at the nearby prawn hatchery at the time of the incident.         

He said the re-enactment as shown on television was inaccurate, as he belied reports that the signage at the checkpoint site was placed only when the two vehicles arrived. He said the signs were already there as early as 1 p.m. or two hours before the supposed encounter.

When asked if he knew other people who might have witnessed the shooting, Vico said he was alone – save for his child – at the prawn hatchery at the time.     

He said he did not see the other men who claimed to have witnessed the firefight.

Vico said video footage aired over ABS-CBN Channel 2 a day after the incident showing him being interviewed gave an unclear impression of what really happened because the report was edited.

In the report, he was quoted as saying the shots were fired after the police shouted “Baba! Baba! (Get off! Get off)” at the passengers of the vehicles.

The entire clip of the interview showed Vico saying the police officers fired back at the passengers of the vehicle.

Credible witness

VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez said Vico sought the help of the organization after watching the interview on television.

Jimenez said his group was convinced that Vico is a credible witness. He called on the public not to pre-judge those involved in the incident until the investigation is over.

He said the VACC is “not taking sides” on the issue and only wanted the truth to come out. He said he would convince Vico to apply for the witness protection program.