Kin identify other casualty

CEBU, Philippines - Relatives have identified the other person killed in an alleged shootout with the police during a checkpoint Tuesday dawn on N. Bacalso Avenue .

Ebaresto "Jay-ar" Itang, 23, of Sitio San Antonio, Barangay Binabag, Bogo City was identified by his relatives at the morgue.

His companion, who was also killed, was earlier recognized as Dean Mark "Sadam" Rivera of Barangay Casili, Mandaue City.

Itang and Rivera reportedly eluded a clustered police checkpoint, sparking a chase with authorities.

A companion, Joseph Cueva, was hit in the leg when shot by the police near Jai-Alai in Barangay Mambaling while Itang and Rivera sped towards South Road Properties but were also later shot after they allegedly opened fire at the chasing police.

In an interview, City Intelligence Branch chief Superintendent Romeo Santander said the police were "just doing their job" in apprehending the suspects and only fired because the suspects allegedly retaliated.

Santander added that the police did not intend to kill the suspects. In fact, Cueva was only wounded in his leg and is alive, he said.

He also said they are willing to face the charges that the families of Itang and Rivera plan to file against them, especially that they are seeking assistance from the Commission on Human Rights.

Rivera's family was quoted as saying that the police might have been pressured because of the series of robberies in the city, leading them to accuse the dead persons, including Cueva, of being robbers.

But Santander said his counterpart in Mandaue City confirmed that the dead persons were involved in "illegal activities" there.

"We coordinated with the MCPO (Mandaue City Police Office). Initial information nga those persons daw nga na-engkwentro namo (are) involved sa mga illegal activities," Santander said.

He said Cueva will be facing three separate charges for the traffic violation, illegal possession of firearms and disobedience to an agent of a person in authority. (FREEMAN)