Garma: Paraffin test may turn out positive

If cops practiced shooting after incident

CEBU, Philippines — Saying that they have nothing to hide, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is open to investigation by other government agencies into the anti-illegal drug operation that killed a four-year-old kid in Sitio Bato, Ermita on Tuesday afternoon.

CCPO Director Royina Garma said that she is willing to submit her cops to a paraffin test if that is what will appease the grieving family.

Although she noted that the paraffin test may turn out to be positive if the cops involved have  practiced firing following the operation.

“I won’t be biased. So long as tama ginawa ng pulis, may procedure I will also follow the procedure. If may other agencies who wants to investigate, why not,” she said.

As this developed, she also expressed her dismay over the absence of barangay officials who could have assisted cops during the operation.

She told reporters in a press conference that four of his cops had to pull out from the area, since they were being mobbed by the crowd.

“Yung nagkagulo na, nung naghabulan na, I was told by my police officers na walang elected officials na pumunta o nag-appear pag nagkagulo na, dapat nandun ang police officials,” Garma said.

She added that she called for his men to stay in the area, to at least preserve the crime scene, but the cops were concerned that they may be overpowered and pulled out.

“Pero walang lumapit.  So, instead of ma-preserve yung crime scene para malaman natin na ang pulis  talaga nakapaputok o ang kabila ba, or whatever, wala, nasira ang crime scene. Pinagtulungan ang pulis, parang di natuwa maglinis ng drugs,” she said.

She said that she will be talking to the officials of Barangay Ermita to check on what happened.

She emphasized that in order to counter illegal drugs, it should not only be the police working for it.

Based on police reports, four responding officers from Carbon Police Station drug enforcement unit arrived at the house reportedly spotted four men inside a room on the second floor; two of which were repacking shabu while two were in a sniffing session.

One of the officers barged inside the room and identified himself as a policeman but one of unidentified men inside twisted his arm and pushed him back.

A minor scuffle involving the other three policemen ensued and one of the suspects reportedly pulled out a firearm and shot at the officers, prompting cops to move away.

This created a chance for the four unidentified male to jump over a window to the adjoining houses and sneak away to undisclosed directions.

The men, however, reportedly left behind evidence that included several drug paraphernalia, two medium and 22 small packs of suspected shabu worth over P80,000.

Cops were also surprised upon hearing that victim, Blader Skyler Abatayo, was hit by a stray bullet.

They said they stopped pursuing the four suspects and attended to the child.

It was reported that he was inside a room playing with his mother when the scuffle happened. He was brought to a hospital but did not make alive.

Garma belied accusations that the policemen’s act of not pursuing the four drug personalities to come to the aid of the 4-year old was an act of guilt.

She said it is in the code of police to protect human lives first before anything else.

“Nang malaman na may nasugatan, they stopped chasing the four suspects, bumalik sila sa area to save the child but unfortunately he didn’t make it. Bumalik ang pulis kasi yun ang procedure you have to save live before anything else,” she said.

She added that they are sympathizing with the family with what happened and willing to give financial assistance, but it will be the family’s prerogative to accept since the flower they have sent for the child’s wake was even returned.

“I sent a flower pero binalik. The night ng haya binalik. How can I give the money nga ang flower binalik nga? Magsabi siya (the mother) kung ilan kailangn niya, at tutulong kami,” she said.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 stood firm that the operation was a legitimate as a response to a call from a concerned citizen who reported that there was an ongoing sniffing session and repacking of suspected shabu.

“That’s a legitimate operation.  It’s a response from a call and nakita  there were evidences and more or less kahibaw ang silingan nila,” PRO-7 Director Debold Sinas said.

Sinas said that he will have an investigation to determine whether the four drug enforcement operatives from the Carbon Police Station are also liable.

Asked if he is open to relieve the cops who may be found guilty, Sinas said he might but also emphasized that this will be based on investigation and not due to hearsays provided by drug personalities.

“Kung naa proof, but we believe that the operation conducted was legitimate.  Now relieving of cops because of haka-haka and opinion lang of drug addict, I will not. There should be proof kay sayang pud ang effort,” he said. — Jeffrey Legara (FREEMAN)