Friendly fire killed AKG cop in rescue ops?

MANILA, Philippines — The police officer who was killed in a rescue operation for two Chinese kidnap victims in Angeles City, Pampanga did not perish at the hands of the kidnappers but from “friendly fire,” his widow alleged yesterday.

Breaking her silence, Mary Rose Santiago said she is seeking justice for the death of her husband, S/Sgt. Nelson Santiago of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), who was killed during a raid on the kidnappers’ hideout in Barangay Malabanias last Saturday. Another policeman, Chief M/Sgt. Eden Accad, was wounded.

Addressing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Santiago said she wants the policeman responsible for her husband’s death held accountable for his actions.

“Kailangan namin ng hustisya. Tulungan mo kami ilabas ang katotohanan (We need justice. Help us get the truth out),” Santiago said in an interview over dzBB.

Santiago vowed to file criminal cases against the unnamed policeman and other people who were responsible for what happened to her husband.

Based on the information their family has gathered, Santiago said her husband died from a gunshot wound on the left side of his body, with the bullet coming from an M-16 rifle. The two kidnappers, who are Chinese, only had handguns when they were captured.

Fighting back tears, Santiago said she could not accept that her husband died at the hands of another police officer, leaving their children aged six and two without a father.

“Mahal na mahal niya ‘yung trabaho niya tapos papatay lang din sa kanya kabaro niya (He loved his job. Then a colleague killed him),” Santiago said.

Santiago also criticized the PNP for not disclosing to her immediately how her husband died, saying she only received the whole picture on Monday, or two days after the incident.

She described the incident and the PNP’s failure to inform her as “hocus pocus.”

Probe set

In a news briefing on Friday, PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said probers are investigating if Santiago’s death was the result of friendly fire.

“Whether this is a result of a friendly fire or if the suspects had fired, that will be part of the investigation,” she said.

Fajardo was mum on the other details but vowed they will inform the public once the investigation is completed.

“I don’t want to preempt the ongoing investigation,” she said.

Santiago was among the policemen who were involved in an operation that led to the arrest of Hu Kai and Ryu Don, who were suspected to have kidnapped two Chinese women along Ayala Avenue in Makati on Saturday.

Charges of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention as well as violating Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, were filed against the suspects. However, no case of murder or homicide have been lodged against them.

It raised suspicions from journalists covering the PNP that Santiago did not die at the hands of the Chinese. The AKG also did not set a press conference and only released a press statement about the incident.