THE filing of a homicide complaint against several Laguna policemen involved in an anti-criminality operation which left a wanted ‘high-value target’ and a 16-year old male teenager in Biñan City in Laguna last June 16 is a proof that the Philippine National Police does not set aside accusations of abuse or irregularity against its members, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said on Tuesday.

“This is proof that the PNP will not shield its personnel. Kung may akusasyon, imbestigahan at sampahan ng kaso kung kinakailangan. I have repeatedly said that I will not tolerate police abuse in the organization,” the top cop said.

This as the Police Regional Office 4-A headed by Brigadier Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz reported to the PNP Chief that last Monday, a homicide complaint against 10 members of the Laguna Police Provincial Office were charged with homicide before the Biñan City Prosecutor’s Office in connection with the death of Jhondie Helis.

Brig. Gen. Cruz said that the complaint filed against the 10 accused led by Laguna Police Provincial Office Intelligence Branch chief, Captain Fernando Credo before the prosecutor’s office was filed based on the complaint-affidavit of the teenager’s mother.

based on the complaint-affidavit of the teenager’s mother.

However, Gen. Eleazar urged the family and the public to allow the City Prosecutor to decide on the complaint.

“For now, hayaan nating gumulong ang kaso ng mga pulis na kinasuhan at hintayin natin ang magiging resolution nito. Let us allow the City Prosecutor to appreciate the submitted evidence and facts of the incident,” the PNP chief said.

Gen. Eleazar lauded the PRO4-A headed by Cruz for conducting a thorough probe into the incident amid ‘unsubstantiated accusations’ aired only before the media that the teenager was already in handcuffs when killed.

The PRO4-A Fact-Finding Investigation Task Group and the PNP chief opened their office to all probable witnesses to the incident and Gen. Eleazar repeatedly called on witnesses to testify so that they will know the real truth behind the shooting incident.

However, no witness appeared to testify that the teenager was indeed in handcuffs when shot dead.

The family of the 2nd suspect, Antonio Dalit alias ‘Tala’ said they are not interested in filing any case against the policemen who shot dead the latter whom they admitted was indeed involved in illegal drug trafficking activities in their area.

However, the PNP chief said that it would be up to the provincial prosecutor’s office to determine the merits of the case.

Gen. Eleazar said that more than three weeks after the teenager and wanted drug personality Dalit’ were killed in a reported shootout, no witnesses have come out to formally testify that the two were summarily executed or that the teenager was already in handcuffs when shot dead.

“Ang point namin dito, kami mismo sa PNP ang nagsusulong ng investigation dito.

However, he stressed that until now, there is no evidence that the teenager was in handcuffs when killed.

“Diumano, me nagsabi sa media na diumano ay nakaposas ang teenager nung mabaril. We opened our investigation because of that, even my own office pero wala naming witnesses. The PNP is very transparent in our investigation. Pag me nagkamali, papanagutin namin tiyak,” he said.

However, he said he also wants to protect the image and integrity of his men who are doing their job well. Gen. Eleazar lamented that the Laguna policemen have been tried before the public, by netizens included but until now, there are no witnesses or pieces of evidence that will bolster allegations that the two were killed while in handcuffs.

Dalit has been identified as one of Laguna’s 10 most wanted persons. He has been considered as an ‘armed and dangerous drug trafficker’ prior to the June 16 shootout.

Gen. Eleazar said that there were no ligature markings found on the two slain suspects contrary to claims by some people who were interviewed by the press that they were already handcuffed before being shot.

“Lydia Dalit said the family believes there was no overkill and that they are aware that Tala is a known drug pusher and ex-convict,” Gen. Eleazar said.

The 10 accused policemen were also subjected to an administrative investigation and were placed under restrictive custody at the local provincial headquarters.

Both slain tested positive for gunpowder nitrates during the conduct of paraffin tests on their bodies.

“There’s a presumption of regularity in the conduct of this operation, unless there are witnesses who could corroborate that there was no exchange of gunfire and that Helis was already handcuffed when he was repeatedly shot as claimed by the relatives,” said Gen. Eleazar.

The top cop said that it was concerning that there seemed to be many witnesses to the incident in the video uploaded on social media, based on the audible chatting on the video’s background, but none of them have come forward to actually give their statements.