Gamboa says IAS probing shooting incident in QC checkpoint

April 23, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) is investigating the shooting incident in Quezon City checkpoint involving a police officer and a former soldier.

In a TV interview, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said since there are two CCTv videos circulating online about the incident, it will be hard to determine the facts of the case for now.

“It will really depend on how the person will also see the video. Others would say it's self-defense. Others would say it's wrong that’s why I suggest that we leave it to up to the Internal Affairs Service which is actually conducting the administrative case against the policemen and if appropriate we will also file criminal charges against him,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa said based on the report he got from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) trainees manning the checkpoint in the area had a verbal confrontation with the former soldier when they asked him to go home.

After they found out that he is carrying a gun, the trainees called the involved cop, Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo Jr, who asked the suspect to lie face down.

“According on the report he tried to get his firearm that's why it resorted to the decision which was really a judgement call on the part of Florendo on what to do at that very moment,” he said.

On the claim that the former soldier is mentally challenged, Gamboa said he will leave the investigation to the regional director of NCRPO and IAS.

“Actually these are not ordinary times and situations are viewed differently today… we also have laws being implemented and I hope all these will be taken in its proper context but I don’t want to speak based on the video because after all I am the chief PNP. Once I open my mouth my investigators might have biases,” Gamboa said.

“So let it be, whatever is the investigation and from there we will study the facts or allegations on what really happened,” he added.

Gamboa said they still need to know the account of the different witnesses in the scene.

 “But maybe on the procedure after that, that’s what we are going to find out if the decision of the policeman is really rightful,” he said.

“Probably the autopsy on the projectile of the bullet can also play on the investigation… we have to find out in the investigation the details and circumstances of this incident,” he said.

Gamboa said he will remind  policemen to exercise proper judgement.

“Whether it's right or wrong but appropriate reminders would be given to our troops to exercise proper judgement. We are not saying that the proper judgement of Florendo was wrong because the investigation is underway but for the comfort of the public we will remind our troops to be very good in judging their courses of action when confronted with different situations in the field,” he said.

In a statement last night, Gamboa appealed to the public to be more circumspect in handling pieces of evidence, such as CCTV videos, as it can affect the ongoing investigation.

“We are aware of the circulation in social media of several video clips of that unfortunate incident. These video materials can provide investigators with crucial leads that will assist in the inquiry,” he said.

“On the other hand, these same video clips may also generate varied speculations and adverse opinion that may unduly affect or even muddle the ongoing formal investigation. We therefore appeal to concerned netizens to be more circumspect in handling these pieces of evidence of a homicide case,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS

Gamboa said they would rather that police investigators shall have access to all these pieces evidence for a more comprehensive probe. Ella Dionisio/ DMS