Seven policemen have been charged with murder for the killing of a tribesman in Quirino province last May, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
In a statement, the NBI said the murder complaint was filed before the Quirino Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for the killing of Bugkalot-Ilongot tribe member Jim B. White last May 28 in a mountain trail in San Pugo in Nagtipunan, Quirino.
Named respondents were Police Maj. Fernando G. Manayod and police officers Jorey Cumahling, Jimboy Irang, Delmar Salvador, Allan Fiad-Ong, Jonathan Limmong, and Raymundo Littuco.
NBI Bayombong District Office (NBI-BAYDO) Head Agent Virgilio C. Reganit said that White was the subject of an arrest warrant on a rape charge filed before the court.
Reganit said White later decided to surrender on May 29 after having reached before the council of elders of the Bugkalot-Longot tribe an amicable settlement with the victim who issued an affidavit of desistance.
The head agent pointed out the provincial police director was even informed about the surrender of White and the amicable settlement with the female rape victim.
However, Reganit said that White was killed by the seven policemen who claimed they were serving a warrant for the latter’s arrest when the tribesman started firing a gun at them.
He also said the seven policemen had no body-worn cameras in serving the arrest warrant in violation of Supreme Court (SC) rules.
He added that based on the autopsy conducted, White was defenseless during the shooting incident since all bullet entry wounds were on the victim’s back.
At the same time, Reganit said that while White was left-handed, the handgun found in the victim’s possession was in his right hand.
He added that the incident took place at a steep slope of a mountain while White was driving a motorcycle, and thus the victim could not have used his gun while maneuvering his motorcycle.