Nograles: PNP’s use of ‘misencounter’ reeks of whitewash

Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles on Wednesday said the use of the term “misencounter” by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to describe the shooting incident in Jolo, Sulu that killed two Army officers and two enlisted men reeks of a “whitewash.”

“The usage of the term misencounter looks like an early indication of a whitewash. How can the PNP already claim this was a misencounter when they have not even conducted a thorough investigation on this case?” he said.

“The PNP should know better and choose words carefully because this is like adding insult to injury to the family and the brothers-in-arms of the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Nograles said.

“Conceding that this is an innocent misencounter is trying to whitewash a possible murder situation. This is reckless and very irresponsible,” Nograles added.

Nograles said that instead of simply dismissing this incident as an unfortunate case of misencounter, the PNP should immediately order a deeper probe on this incident.

“The murder suspects are now detained and an ongoing investigation is welcome. But I join with the outrage against these irresponsible acts,” he said.

He suggested that the policemen who were involved in the incident should be immediately removed from Sulu to ensure that investigators can have a free hand in conducting their probe.

Nograles, who is the principal author of House Bill 3065 known as the Strengthening of the PNP Internal Affairs Service, said that this is another incident that supports his bill to properly police the Police.

“One doesn’t need to be a forensic scientist to see that all the victims who were all sprawled near their vehicle were not armed,” he added.

“It is a well and established rule to not fire unless fired upon, and, based on the reports I have received, the Army personnel did not shoot first. Sounds like a rubout to me,” Nograles said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)