A police officer involved in a shootout that accidentally killed a bystander is now in the custody of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
According to Vonne Aquino’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the victim – Iris John Genovatin, 24, and a criminology student – was biking along the Quirino Highway when some cops were chasing two men aboard a motorcycle on the evening of Sunday, February 1.
“Masakit din po sa akin kasi may pangarap po yung anak ko. Pangarap niya maging pulis,” said Jeffry Genovatin, the victim’s father.
(It is very painful for me because my son had dreams. His dream was to become a policeman.)
A witness who was in the area when the incident happened recalled what happened that night.
“‘Yung mga suspek po na naka-motor hinahabol po eh, ang humabol pulis po. Sobrang tulin po, siguro mga 100 plus ‘yung takbo, mga ganoon ang bilis nila,” said the witness identified as “Arnold.”
(They were chasing the suspects on the motorcycle, the ones chasing them were police. They were going so fast, maybe at a speed of over 100 kph, that’s how fast they were.)
“..’Yung pagdaan po ng ano, mga pulis at hinahabol na motor, pinutukan nila ‘yung naka-motor, sumablay po. Akala namin matatamaan motor, kaso natagusan ‘yung siklista, tinamaan sa paa, naabutan namin humihingi siya ng tulong kaya nag-offer kami ng tulong,” he added.
(… When the police and the motorcycle passed us by, the police fired at the motorcycle but they missed. We thought they would hit the motorcycle but instead the cyclist was hit; he was hit in the foot. We found him asking for help, so we offered our assistance.)
The QCPD has already formed a special investigation team to look into the incident.
The commander of the Novaliches Police Station, on the other hand, said five cops involved in the shootout already gave their statements and one of them has been relieved from his post.
The police officer who fired the gun is now under the custody of the QCPD.
Authorities are still investigating if it was the cop who indeed hit the victim or the motorcycle-riding suspects that they were chasing.
“Nung hinahabol daw po nila ito, eh nagpaputok daw itong mga suspects kaya gumanti daw lang po sila ng putok,” said Novaliches Police station commander Police Lieutenant Colonel Michael John Villanueva.
(When they were allegedly chasing them, the suspects reportedly opened fire, so the police simply returned fire.)
Authorities are also finding out if the cops involved violated any police operational procedure.
“Kasi sa pagkakaalam ko, ‘pag ka nasa moving vehicle hindi ka pwedeng magpaputok ng baril,” said Villanueva.
(Because as far as I know, you are not allowed to fire a gun when you are inside a moving vehicle.)
Police are still looking for the motorcycle-riding suspects while the victim’s family has decided to file charges against those involved.
“Ang gusto ko po talagang mangyari ay yung magkaroon ng hustisya yung anak ko,” said Edna Genovatin, the victim’s mother.
(What I really want to happen is for my son to get justice.)
She also requested to see a clear CCTV footage of the incident from authorities.
“Then kung sino ang dapat managot, managot,” she added.
(Then, whoever should be held accountable must be held to account.)
For their part, Villanueva said: “Ang pinangako ng QCPD na bibigyan namin sila ng patas na imbestigasyon. Kung nagkasala po talaga ang mga kapulisan natin, paparusahan natin ‘yan.”
(The QCPD promised that we will give them a fair investigation. If our police officers are truly at fault, we will punish them.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News
