Cops in shootout not yet off the hook

Despite having been cleared by Manila police officials in the Quiapo shootout probe, Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr. and his men still have to face charges filed against them before the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB), a ranking City Hall official said yesterday.

"Not so fast, you are not yet off the hook," said city legal officer Melchor Monsod, referring to the charges filed against several Manila policemen by members of a Muslim community for the "bungled" police operation, which claimed the life of a 19-year-old pedicab driver in Quiapo last week.

Monsod said despite the statements issued by ranking Muslim officials and elders that they actually witnessed the exchange of gunfire between police and a group of armed Muslims, Yanquiling and his operatives have to face the official charges filed against them at the PLEB headed by Teresita Ang-See.

It will be recalled that a group of Muslims, accompanied by their barangay leaders, sought the help of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza to seek justice for the death of Ali Abdullah.

Investigations conducted by the General Assignment Section of the Manila Police District showed that Abdullah was killed by a stray bullet when a group of heavily armed Muslims engaged Manila policemen in a 20-minute firefight last Wednesday night along C. Palanca street in Quiapo.

However, probers failed to establish who accidentally shot Abdullah after his relatives refused the victim to be autopsied.

Office of Muslim Affairs director for Metro Manila Mohammad Tanggote confirmed that there was actually a shootout and have personally witnessed several unidentified men firing at Manila policemen.

Barangay Councilman Amir Casan’s relatives and supporters fired at the police when they thought he had been shot by arresting policemen, Tanggote said.

Retired Army Maj. Teng Macaraya, who also lives in the Islamic compound, said he saw two Muslims firing at the direction of the police.

Tanggote said they found bullet marks on areas where police took cover.

Yanquiling said he welcomes the filing of charges before the PLEB to prove that he and his men acted within the rules in the Quiapo operation.