POLICE ADMIT LAPSES IN INITAO SCHOOL BLAST

WHILE the police organization hailed the heroic act of Police Master Sergeant Jason Magno, who died to protect others in a grenade explosion inside the Initao College in Misamis Oriental, a police official said lapses in operational procedure and protocol during the incident have been observed.

Lt. Col. Mardy Hortillosa, spokesperson of Police Regional

Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO10), said police officers at the scene failed to control the crowd inside the campus.

In a video circulating online, a group of civilians got in a scuffle with the suspect identified as Ibrahim Basher while others seem to throw rocks at him. Basher died of gunshot wounds.

Hortillosa also said the Initao Police Station is under investigation and was made to answer why only Magno and PMS Alice Balido responded.

He said these observations will be reviewed to determine if they need to implement changes in the police operational procedure.

“Nasabtan pud nato nga gibadlong daw nila ang mga tawo sa palibot pero wala na gyuy time. Naa pa mga civilian nga ni-attempt ug ilog sa kutsilyo sa suspect, kung wala pa siguro to sila, maybe naa pay time mag-negotiate atong police,” Hortillosa said.

“Gi-recognize nato ilang kaisog pero naa naman ang police, giturn-over na unta to nila sa police to handle the situation,” he added.

Hortillosa disclosed that they are also coordinating with the Lanao police to find out why the suspect owns and carries a grenade.

Meanwhile, Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Fernando Dy defends how the Initao town emergency responders rescued Magno.

In a video, police and some rescuers lifted Magno without a stretcher.

“During that particular incident, the rescuer performed rapid patient transfer away from the incident area for the safety of the patient and the responder as well as for immediate first aid management,” he said.

“Immediate care/attention sa victim nga critical ang kahimtang. Mag-depende sa sitwasyon kay hinali man ang panghitabo ug basin sad naa pa siyay mga kauban sa gawas nga mo-resbak. Depende gyud ang response sa give situation. At stake sad ang kinabuhi sa responder adto nga situation,” Dy added.

Tand 16 civilians were injured and two died after a grenade exploded at the covered court in Initao College on Thursday, November 28.