Cops in custody for boy’s death in drug ops

MANILA, Philippines — Ten policemen involved in an anti-drug operation that left a 16-year-old boy and his companion dead in Biñan, Laguna on Wednesday have been disarmed and placed under restrictive custody.

“Lahat ng pulis na kasali sa operation ay under restrictive custody at isinailalim sa paraffin test,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a video message to reporters yesterday.

The firearms of the 10 policemen led by intelligence unit chief Capt. Fernando Credo were also subjected to ballistics examination.

The teenager, Johndy Maglinte, and Antonio Dalit allegedly resisted arrest in Barangay Canlalay.

However, Maglinte’s relatives claimed the boy was handcuffed and pleading for his life when he was shot.

Eleazar ordered the PNP Internal Affairs Service to determine if the policemen strictly followed operational procedures. He urged witnesses and the families of the fatalities to cooperate in the investigation.

Eleazar vowed to personally monitor the progress of the investigation, saying he wanted to find out if the two died in a legitimate police operation.

CHR probe

As this developed, Commission on Human Rights spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the CHR would conduct a parallel probe.

“We strongly urge the government to speed up their investigations on cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, especially those linked to the drug campaign,” De Guia said.

She cited the observation of the United Nations Human Rights Office regarding the widespread killing of drug suspects in the country.

“We hope that commitments to uphold human rights translate to delivering justice to the aggrieved and improvements on government programmes and policies, including reviewing the conduct of State agents in implementing them,” De Guia said.