Operatives tried to save boy’s life, Garma says

Without admitting guilt, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Senior Supt. Royina Garma defended her men, saying they tried to rescue and help a four-yearold boy who was shot and killed during an operation against drug personalities in Barangay Ermita last Tuesday afternoon.

Garma said his men stopped going after the four drug suspects in an attempt to rescue Skyler Abatayo and rush him to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

“But it’s not an admission of guilt, it was to put the child’s welfare first because he got hurt,” Garma said.

She welcomed other agencies that might conduct an investigation on the incident.

“Yung police natin bumalik eh when they learned na may nasugatan. They stopped chasing the four suspects. Bumalik sila sa area to save the child but it’s too late, unfortunately,” she said.

“But that doesn’t mean that the police is guilty dahil bumalik sila. Bumalik ang police because that’s part of the procedure. You have to save the lives first before anything else,” she added.

Garma also lamented that there was not a single barangay official when the incident happened.

“Nung naghabulan na, I was told by my police officers na walang elected officials na pumunta o nag-appear. Because in your barangay, kung nagkakagulo na, yung mga barangay officials makialam kung bakit at anong nangyayari,” she said.

She also revealed that they sent flowers to the boy’s wake but it was returned.

“How can I give the money if the flowers binalik nga?,” she said, referring to the cash assistance the CCPO planned to give to the victim.

As for the paraffin test, Garma said that the police officers will be subjected to the test even if the result “is not conclusive.”

I will tell you, I won’t be biased (in the investigation of my policemen). So long as tama ang ginawa ng police, may procedure na sinunod, I will also follow the procedure kung paano yung investigation. CCPO DIRECTOR SENIOR SUPT. ROYINA GARMA