Policemen involved in the bloody shootout in a Parañaque City subdivision last week did not take into consideration the safety of civilians that may caught in a huge police operation against cold-blooded killers, a National Police Commission (Napolcom) official said Thursday.

Napolcom Commissioner Eduardo Escueta said that based on initial investigations, the police team headed by Superintendent Eleuterio Gutierrez Jr. failed to include in their operation's blueprint two blocking forces, which could have cost the lives of civilians.

"The blocking force was placed only at the entrance of the subdivision. There was no blocking force at the back. This lapse cost the lives of civilians," Escueta told ABS-CBN News Channel, citing for example the tragic death of Alfonso de Vera and his seven-year-old daughter Alyanna.

Escueta said that according to the police's rules of engagement, blocking forces are placed in every exit and entry points of the "site of engagement."

He said that blocking forces are put in place to prevent civilians from entering into the middle of encounter site.

Escueta also mentioned that based on witnesses' accounts, policemen who were part of the blocking force were in civilians' clothes.

“There was a blocking force but the blocking force were private-looking individuals and not in uniform,” he said. “It must be manned by uniformed personnel so that civilians attempting to enter the area would be convinced that these people are part of the police force.”

Not a residential area

Aside from de Vera and his daughter, three other civilians were slain during the fierce gunfight between 50 policemen and at least 20 suspected robbers along Sampaguita Street in United Parañaque Subdivision last Friday night.

One of the three was Ronaldo Eusebio, a Skyway employee, who, police said, was riding in tandem with one of the robbers carrying an M203 grenade launcher.

Escueta admitted that the number of civilian casualties during the police operation was high.

Ten armed suspects and a policeman were slain in the encounter.

The Napolcom official said the police officials who directed the bloody operation had enough time to come up with a plan that could have been safer for the civilians.
Director Leopoldo Bataoil, Metro Manila police chief, had said that the operation was planned after policemen received information that the robbery gang will strike on Sampaguita Street.

Bataoil had also said that the warehouses along the street have been repeatedly victimized by the same group.

Escueta mentioned that the police team was not anticipating civilians to be trapped in the middle of the gunfight because Sampaguita Street was not a residential area.

“The shootout occurred in a subdivision, but the street was lined up with warehouses so the police may have thought it was not necessary for enough precaution within the conflict area for the prevention of civilian casualties,” he said.

Wounded team leader faces raps

Escueta said that aside from administrative charges, cases of murder or homicide may also be filed against the policemen responsible in the death of the civilians.

He said the Napolcom’s fact-finding commission has yet to identify all the 50 police personnel involved in the operation.

He said the Napolcom has to identify the individual players to pinpoint those responsible in the death of the de Veras and the other civilians.

Escueta said the Napolcom will collate investigation reports of the police, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Commission on Human Rights before filing necessary charges.

“We want to make sure that we are not missing out on any of the details,” he said.

He said the policemen involved in the operations could have committed reckless imprudence, abuse and deliberate lapses.

Escueta said that despite Gutierrez’s health condition, he may still be slapped with charges because of command responsibility.

Gutierrez remained in a critical condition. He was shot in the head during the gunfight.

Unforgivable

Escueta said that what happened to de Vera and his daughter was “unforgivable.”

“The place was not well-lighted, but when a man [carrying] a child is coming out of a vehicle without a firearm, they should have exercises extreme caution because they are not a threat,” he said. “For anybody to shoot them right there is unforgivable. We will go after those who did this.”

Lilia de Vera, wife and mother of the victims, on Wednesday asked President Arroyo to reform the police and help her seek justice.

Eusebio’s wife also asked the president and the police organization to clear her husband’s name.