The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Sunday launched an investigation into the death of two civilians, including a seven-year old girl, and the wounding of three others in the deadly shootout between police and alleged members of a bank robbery group Friday evening.

The CHR will investigate if police involved in the incident violated rules of engagement.

"There are rules of engagement. Noong umaga pa nila tinitiktikan 'yong mga syndicate, so dapat naglagay sila ng precautionary measures doon," CHR chief Leila de Lima said.

De Lima added that police already knew the suspected syndicate members were using a white Toyota Revo, which would lead to questioning why the orange Toyota Revo that Alfonso de Vera and his daughter were using was also fired upon. De Vera and his daughter died in the shootout.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, said they are open to the CHR investigation, as long as they are allowed to finish their own investigation.

They also appealed not to prejudge the police personnel involved in the incident until the investigations are finished.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil said that administrative charges would be filed against any police officer who would be proven to have killed the de Veras.

PCG official to be summoned
Meanwhile, a bullet-ridden red Toyota Altis was recovered in a gasoline station in Parañaque City on Saturday.

A security guard of the gasoline station first noticed the car at around 10 p.m. Saturday. Police found an ID and license of a high-ranking official of the Philippine Coast Guard.

Bataoil said the official, who has not yet been publicly identified, will be invited for questioning.

Bataoil said the IDs might have been used by persons other than the Coast Guard official.

Five civilians among 16 deaths
Sixteen people, including a young girl, four other civilians and a police commando, died following a gun battle between suspected members of two robbery gangs and policemen inside a subdivision in Parañaque City Friday night.

The shootout took place along Sampaguita Street inside the United Parañaque Subdivision IV past 8 p.m.

A witness said members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) peppered de Vera's vehicle with bullets and never stopped shooting at de Vera while he was getting out of the sport utility vehicle.

"Nakita ko, nakita ko niratrat nalang 'yong sasakyan ng mga operatives ng SAF kahit lumabas na si Alfonso ng sasakyan, pinagbabaril pa rin.’ Di tinigilan hangang mamatay siya nang nakaluhod," said the witness.

De Vera and his daughter both died on the spot.

Two more civilians identified as Jesiry Vicemayor and Bernard Tungcab died after being caught in crossfire. A subdivision security guard, Arnel Malawacan, was also slain.

The civilians were among the 16 people killed in the bloody police encounter. Ten of suspected robbers and a PNP-SAF member identified as Police Officer 1 Nixon Binasoy were among the fatalities.

Police said a ranking police officer and two more SAF members were wounded in the gun battle. They were Senior Superintendent Eleuterio Gutierrez and SAF members Chief Inspector Hermogenes Cabe and Inspector Eric Roranes.

Gutierrez is in critical condition at the Parañaque Medical Center. With reports from Gretchen Malalad and Wheng Hidalgo, ABS-CBN News