Public Attorney's Office defends 29 cops in EDSA encounter

MANILA, Philippines - The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) took up the cudgels yesterday for Quezon City policemen accused of violating rules of engagement in their encounter with suspected car thieves on EDSA last month.

Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda–Acosta said pieces of evidence seemed to clear 29 police officers of the Quezon City Police District’s anti-carjacking and car theft unit who were earlier suspended by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for the alleged rubout of suspected carjackers last Feb. 17.

“It was a shootout - not a rubout. It was a legitimate police operation. It would be unfair if we allow our policemen to be penalized or possibly even jailed for doing their job,” she told The STAR over the phone.

Acosta cited as evidence the findings of independent forensic expert Dr. Erwin Erfe, who said evidence shows that suspect Rolando Batapa fired two shots at policemen approaching their vehicle.

This prompted PO2 Randy Barrameda to shoot Batapa in the left shoulder “to incapacitate him,” Erfe said.

“If there were an intention to immediately kill him, I would expect the gunshot wound at crucial areas like head or chest,” he added.

Erfe said Batapa died at a hospital after sustaining four other gunshot wounds during the running gunbattle along EDSA.

Acosta said Erfe’s findings disprove the perception that there was overkill in the police operation.

She lamented that the policemen were prejudged because of the ABS-CBN news footage, where policemen were seen shooting the suspects in the stolen vehicle.

Acosta also said some of the policemen involved in the operation were in civilian clothes because they did not have enough time to wear their uniforms.

“They were alerted by the Highway Patrol Group. They said they were in a hurry to respond and did not bother wearing their uniforms,” she said.

Acosta said the policemen patiently pursued the suspects’ car from Mandaluyong and decided to fire back only at the intersection of EDSA and NIA Road, where only a few vehicles were passing at the time. – Edu Punay