seems like a suicide by cop. too bad he was a ptsd war vet though abd the treatment didn't work.
The police officer who shot and killed an army veteran only made a "judgment call" at the scene, Philippine National Police chief PGen Archie Gamboa said Thursday as authorities opened an investigation into the controversial Quezon City shooting incident.
"According sa (to the) report, he tried to draw his firearm. That's why it resorted to the decision, which was really a judgment call on the part of (Police Master Sergeant Daniel) Florendo on what to do at that very moment," Gamboa told.
A footage of the incident, which made rounds online on Wednesday, showed nearby residents trying to stop Florendo from shooting W. R, a retired soldier who supposedly violated the enhanced community quarantine protocols.
Officials said R, who had a "heated" argument with police manning the checkpoint, allegedly attempted to pull out a .38 caliber hand gun from his sling bag after law enforcers asked him to head home.
Witnesses who have asked not to be named, however, claimed the victim did not have a gun inside his bag. They said that upon checking, police found that it only carried his quarantine pass.
With conflicting claims on deck, Gamboa said he will leave it up to officials to conduct a "thorough" investigation on the facts of the case. He said an administrative probe on Florendo is already underway, reiterating that complaints will be filed should authorities find loopholes.
"We have to know all the facts. We sympathize with the family of R, but please give the PNP the trust that we will investigate this case thoroughly," Gamboa said.
"And if appropriate, we will also file criminal charges against him (policeman)."
'Stage of survival'
PMaj Elmer Monsalve, head of the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, echoed Gamboa's sentiment, saying Florendo held on to a "stage of survival" mindset during the incident.
"Nasa stage of survival ka. At that time na siya may baril at may baril din ang kalaban mo, at maaaring ang isa sa inyo ay mamatay, ang isa diyan, nasa stage of survival," Monsalve told.
[Translation: You're in a stage of survival. At that time, the police had a gun, your enemy had a gun, one of you may get killed, the other one is in a stage of survival.]
Monsalve has yet to confirm specific details of the case, with authorities still awaiting the autopsy and investigation reports. He noted at least four witnesses have already submitted their statements for the probe.
No excuse for violence against the 'mentally-challenged'
The incident sparked rage on social media as R, was said to have suffered from post-traumatic disorder after completing his tour of duty during the Marawi siege in 2017.
Netizens and human rights advocates denouncing police killings, especially for "mentally-challenged" individuals.
After eating lunch with his blind aunt and two nephews, the victim stepped out of their house on Tuesday, April 21, for his usual fix of coke and a cigarette. He never returned home.
At around 2:30 pm near a quarantine control point along Maligaya Drive in Barangay Pasong Putik, Quezon City, Winston was shot by a cop after he appeared to try to pull something from his sling bag while taunting the law enforcers.
The cop who fired, Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo Jr, shot him twice. The gunshots pierced his body just seconds between each other. He swayed for a few seconds before falling to the ground.
One woman witness screamed: “Dapat kinapkapan n'yo muna (You should have searched him first).”
“Walang dala yan (He has nothing on him),” shouted a man.
Cops responded by ordering them inside their homes before taking away him and his bag. He was declared dead at 5:57 pm. He was 33 years old.
Police then reported to the public that they killed Winston because he kept a gun inside his bag.
In an interview his mother Merlyn said people were shouting because they believe he carried no firearms despite displaying anger at cops. He was mentally ill and could have challenged cops on a whim.
“They think he had bad intentions, but the bag that hung over his neck only has a water bottle inside,” Merlyn told.
She should know, she said, because she gave her son the bag herself, a hand-me-down from her deceased husband. She said she also did not raise a violent child.
W. R. grew up in Ligao City, Albay. He was the 5th of 7 children of Merlyn, a beautician who offers home services, and Leopoldo, a former military man who became a policeman after the Philippine Constabulary was turned into the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Because of Leopoldo, he grew up in a “disciplinarian household.” It was also because of his father that he entered the Philippine military.
He admired his father, but his father had a stroke in 2004. She said he enlisted in 2010 after completing a criminology degree at the Bicol College in Daraga, Albay.
“That’s when we were deep. It was also because of his father’s condition that he took it upon himself to help,” Merlyn said.
He served with the Army's 31st Infantry Battalion under the 9th Infantry "Spear" Division headquartered in Camarines Sur, where the military often battles communist guerrillas.