THE Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered an in-depth investigation on the reported shootout in Atimonan, Quezon last Sunday that resulted to the death of thirteen alleged members of a gang-for-hire group.
PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima ordered the investigation on Monday after families of those killed in the shootout have cried foul and accused that their loved ones were rub-out victims.
“This incident is now under investigation and there was no rub-out — it was a shootout. The suspect opened fired first and one of our officer was injured,” Purisima told reporters in a chance interview in Camp Crame .
The PNP chief said that he had directed the regional commander for the Southern Tagalog Police, Chief Supt. James Melad to spearhead the conduct of in-depth investigation of the said incident.
The police commander for the Southern Tagalog Region was also directed to find-out on why there police and military officers that were included in the group of suspected criminals in the encounter.
Four of those killed in the said shootout that occurred late Sunday afternoon along the Maharlika Highway in Brgy. Lumotan, Atimonan were reportedly military and police personnel.
The police and military men killed in the shootout were Supt. Alfredo Perez Consemino assigned in the Mimaropa Regional Police office based in Calapan, Mindoro; SPO1 Gruet Alinea Mantuano; PO1 Jeffrey Valdez and Aiforce S/Sgt. Armanda Lescano.