MANILA, Philippines — The chief of police in Rodriguez, Rizal and 19 other police officers were relieved from their posts yesterday in connection with the death of a three-year-old girl in a drug sting on Saturday.
Col. Resty Damaso, 14 of his men and six personnel of the provincial intelligence branch, who were part of the operation, were also ordered to surrender their firearms for ballistic examination.
Kaitleen Myca Ulpina was allegedly hit in the shootout that killed her father Renato, his unidentified companion and M/Sgt. Conrado Cabigao Jr. She died while being treated in a hospital a day after the incident.
Damaso was replaced by Lt. Col. Alex de los Santos, former chief of the San Mateo police.
In an interview over GMA News, the mother of the victim disputed claims that her daughter was used as a human shield by her father, saying police officers barged into their house.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said he commisserates with the mother of the victim even as he appealed for understanding, noting that they also lost a police officer.
Albayalde said the incident could have been avoided if the elder Ulpina had surrendered.
Commission on Human Rights spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the CHR would conduct a parallel probe into the incident.
De Guia said children caught in the crossfire in the government’s war on drugs should not be treated as collateral damage.
Former PNP chief and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa defended the police officers, saying “s*** happens in police operations.”
Dela Rosa said no police officer would want to hurt or kill children since most of them are also parents.