Anti-kidnap unit apologizes for mistaken shooting, arrest

So whatever happened to the much-vaunted training and intelligence prowess of the elite Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER)?

This, after Senior Superintendent Alan Purisima, chief of the crack anti-kidnapping unit of the Philippine National Police, apologized yesterday to a 52-year-old woman and her 24-year-old son whom PACER agents shot and then arrested in Bacoor, Cavite last Monday night.

In a statement, Purisima admitted that there were, indeed, lapses on the part of the PACER agents involved in the incident.

"We were in the middle of a legitimate operation against a kidnap-for-ransom group when the unfortunate incident happened. Despite strict observance of operational procedures, the men on the ground made a mistake. It is, indeed, unfortunate and we humbly apologize to the family of Mrs. Kalambakal," he said.

According to Purisima, PACER agents manning a checkpoint along Molino Road in Bacoor spotted a dark green Mitsubishi Adventure with license plate XFR-970 at about 9 p.m.

A police informant pointed to the van, being driven by Janaka Kalambakal, as the one used by a group of kidnappers as getaway vehicle. With Janaka inside the van was his mother, Marinel.

Police said the PACER operatives fired at the van’s tires after sensing that it was not going to stop.

It turned out that mother and son had just come from Iloilo and were going to a wake in Bacoor.

Purisima said the PACER agents brought the Kalambakals to the Bacoor police station and then resumed their mission which led to the safe release of a kidnapped Chinese businessman and his driver.

Purisima said they are now investigating their informant who might have deliberately relayed wrong information to protect the kidnappers.

In an interview with radio station dzXL, Jupiter Kalambakal, Marinel’s other son, claimed that some of the PACER men manning the checkpoint appeared to be drunk and were not wearing the proper uniform.

"If it was a checkpoint, why did they immediately open fire? Why did they not properly identify themselves?" he asked.

He added that after the incident, the PACER men even wanted to bring his mother and brother to Camp Crame.

He said the PACER agents even went to their relatives’ house in Bacoor and threatened to arrest them, too.

Jupiter said they are now preparing charges against the PACER agents involved in the incident with the National Police Commission.