Soldiers recover remains of policemen killed in the misencounter. (Photo courtesy of HPG REGION 8)
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson PSSupt. Benigno Durana Jr. said Tuesday (June 26) that they have formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to conduct a fact-finding investigation into the bloody misencounter between the police and military in Samar, in response to the immediate order from PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.
Also, a Board of Inquiry (BOI) was formed to serve as a support group that will coordinate closely with its counterparts in the military. It will be led by Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) Eastern Visayas Director Rolando Felix.
“The Board of Inquiry will not only look into the incident itself but look into the operational strategic ramification of that incident so that this kind of unfortunate incident will not happen in the future,” said Durana.
The incident, which happened in Sitio Lunoy Barangay San Roque in Sta. Rita, Samar early Monday (June 25), accidentally killed six policemen and injured nine others when members of the 87th Infantry Battalion mistaken as rebel troops of the 805th Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8 conducting minor combat operations in the area.
Among the issues that the investigating body will determine is MGen. Raul Farnacio’s claim that the cops were using outdated radio units that did not match their Harris communication equipment and so caused failure in coordination.
The investigation will also look into the matter on whether or not an official was accompanying the troops during the operation.
Durana said the PNP Chief already instructed SITG head PCSupt. Mariel Magaway to facilitate the processing and speedy release of all benefits due to the families of the victims.
Magaway, for his part, assured that the incident will not affect the working relationship between the Armed Forces of the Philippine and the PNP; emphasizing that no one on both sides expected for it to happen as it was an accident.
“It will not affect in any way. Aksidente ito (It was an accident). This is an unfortunate incident so wala naming may gusto nito (nobody wanted it). This is an accident, wala ng iba (nothing more),” Magaway firmly said in a press briefing in Samar.
Malacañang through Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque, meanwhile, appealed to the public to give the investigation a chance to uncover what really transpired in the shooting ground. – Lea Ylagan / Marje Pelayo
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