IAS sets probe of Mandaluyong shooting

The Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has recommended the conduct of a pre-charge investigation of the police officers involved in the shooting as a result of a mistaken identity in Mandaluyong City last month.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said yesterday the initial report submitted by their National Capital Region (NCR) office has recommended for a pre-charge investigation against Senior Inspector Maria Cristina Vasquez; Police Officer 2 Lawemuel Songalia; Police Officers 1 Ariel Uribe, Jave Arellano, Tito Danao, Mark Castillo, Julius Libuen, Bryan Nicholas, Albert Buwag and Kim Rufford Tibunsay.

He said they have yet to set the specific date for the start of the summary hearing.

“We will still determine the appropriate charges for each respondent,” Triambulo said in a text message.

Based on the initial report, he said there are still issues that need to be threshed out in the deaths of Jonalyn Amba-an and Jomar Hayawon.

Among these is the possibility that the workers at a construction site at a slum area in Barangay Addition Hills engaged another group in a shootout.

The Mandaluyong police earlier filed a homicide case against Amba-an’s partner, Eliseo Aluad Jr., for her death. She also tested positive for gunpowder nitrates, which authorities said is an indication she was shot at close range.

Another question still unanswered is the owners of the firearms that killed Amba-an and Hayawon. Survivors of the incident told probers that aside from policemen, barangay watchmen of Addition Hills also shot at the Mitsubishi Adventure they were riding.

Triambulo also wants to know the identities of the policemen seen on television footage kicking at the windows and firing at the vehicle.