Eleazar orders probe into Albay killings

It was learned that those involved in the incident are from the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company

National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered an investigation into an incident in Albay where policemen shot dead two activists.

In a statement, Eleazar said he tasked the PNP Internal Affairs Service to conduct the investigation, and Bicol regional police director Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo to place the involved lawmen under restrictive custody.

Earlier, the group Defend Bicol claimed that activists Jemar Palero, 22, and Marlon Naperi, 38, were shot dead by police while spray-painting protest slogans in Barangay Lower Binogsacan, Guinobatan, on Monday morning.

Local police, on the other hand, said in their report that the activists were armed and fired on the cops, so the lawmen retaliated.

The report also said a caliber-.45 pistol and cal-.38 revolver were seized from the slain suspects, while empty shells and a motorcycle were found at the scene.

The Bicol regional police, in a separate statement, said six lawmen from Albay have been relieved from their posts and placed under restriction, to ensure their availability fro the probe.

It was learned that those involved in the incident are from the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company.

Separate probes will be conducted by the Regional Internal Affairs Service and Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, the Bicol PNP said.

Eleazar appealed to the public to let the investigation take its course before making conclusions on the incident.

The Bicol PNP extended condolences to Palero and Naperi’s families, but insisted that a shootout occurred and the duo were caught vandalizing the Banao Bridge.