Dela Rosa urges victim’s family not to doubt paraffin test

January 2, 2018

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the family of one of the two fatalities in the shooting of a van by policemen and barangay watchmen in Mandaluyong should not doubt the result of a test showing her positive for gunpower nitrates.

"Please do not doubt the credibility of our scene of the crime operatives," said PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa in a press briefing in Camp Crame Tuesday. "They will not do it because they are like doctors. They have their own code of ethics."

The family of Jonalyn Amba-an, who was being brought to a hospital in a van after being shot at a construction site in Barangay Addition Hills on Thursday night but ended up dead after the vehicle was riddled with bullets from pursuing police and barangay watchmen, said they doubted the result of the paraffin test.

"She is just positive for powder burns but it is not positive that she fired the gun," stressed Dela Rosa. "For example, we are seated together and the one beside you fired a gun or if there is a scuffle, a positive test will come out even if that person did not fire the gun."

Dela Rosa said he ordered the PNP to arrest barangay watchmen who do not have permits to carry firearms outside residence. "I don't care if the mayors who have control over the watchmen will get angry. Those who do not have permits should be arrested... They are not authorized to bear firearms. That's my instruction."

Dela Rosa said the barangay watchmen pursued the van, apparently fed by wrong information that a gunman was inside the vehicle. Responding policemen were also told the same thing from the barangay watchmen.

"What happened in Mandaluyong was our fault but at least we do not condone it," he said. " The policemen responded because of a report. But they were fooled because the report was wrong. When they arrived, there was shooting or the watchmen fired first. So the policemen fired and all hell broke loose."

Ten policemen and the three barangay watchmen involved in the shooting have been charged have been charged with homicide, the National Capitol Region Police Office said Monday. DMS