2 Cops in soldier's death placed under restrictive custody

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) placed under restrictive custody the two policemen who shot dead an Army soldier who was supposed to take a break in his hometown after fighting in Marawi City.

"'Yung dalawa under restrictive custody ng Aurora Municipal Police Station," said Zamboanga Peninsula police spokesperson Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, referring to the two Zamboanga cops who killed Army Corporal Rodillo Bartolome.

Bartolome, 33, was gunned down by responding policemen, Police Officer (PO) 2 Ronal Zeros and PO1 Michael Bullanday, after he was mistaken as a gunman in Aurora town, Zamboanga del Sur.

Zeros and Bullanday responded to a call about the presence of a gunman in Barangay Monte Alegre around 3:45 p.m.

The policemen shot at the soldier after he allegedly drew his .45 caliber pistol. Bartolome died on the spot.

However, upon verification, police found out that Bartolome is a soldier assigned to the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion and was deployed to Marawi City prior to the incident.

Investigators learned that was just waiting for a ride to visit his family in Barangay Kanipay, Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur.

Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesperson Captain Jo-An Petinglay confirmed that Bartolome was permitted to go on an overnight pass by his immediate superior to allow him to visit his family.

Prior to leaving the camp, she said Bartolome underwent debriefing where he was tested negative for crisis stress.

The Wesmindom, in a statement, said a joint investigation is being conducted to bring about an immediate resolution to the case.

It refused to provide further details regarding Bartolome's death so as not to preempt the ongoing probe.

"We would like to solicit everyone's understanding if we cannot divulge more information at the moment since it is a sensitive matter still under investigation. And we wish to give due consideration to the family's privacy," the Western Mindanao Command said.

"The entire Western Mindanao Command grieves with the family of Private First Class Bartolome and will extend maximum assistance to his widow and his children," it added.

While waiting for the results of the investigation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was not discounting the possibility that there may have been procedural lapses on the part of the two policemen.

AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla Jr. said Friday there was no indication that the slain soldier was experiencing combat stress, contrary to claims that he might have been suffering battle trauma since he was deployed in war-torn Marawi City.

"His (Bartolome’s) colleagues are saying that when he left [Marawi City] for a vacation, there are no signs that he is experiencing battle stress. That’s our basis that’s why we are thoroughly investigating it. Perhaps, the policemen may have [committed] procedural lapses, or if not, it’s our personnel,” Padilla said in a press conference.

Padilla said the military was mourning Bartolome's death but would wait for the results of the investigation in connection with the incident.

"While his colleagues and other members of the armed forces have become emotional because of what happened, the Armed Forces is a professional organization and we control our troops. Our only pledge is to give due process to conduct a proper investigation. And that’s we’re also expecting from our members in the police force," he said. (Third Anne PeraltaMalonzo, Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)