Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police, ordered on Wednesday, Feb. 18, a thorough investigation into the fatal shooting of a murder suspect by four police officers in Camarines Sur.

As part of the measures to ensure the impartiality of the probe, Nartatez said he already directed the immediate preventive suspension of the involved officers amid the interviews and gathering of pieces of evidence in relation to the incident.

“We are reviewing all available evidence including scene documentation, forensic findings, and testimonies of witnesses. If there were body-worn camera footage, that will be part of the evaluation,” said Nartatez.

The investigation was ordered to clear things up amid negative speculations surrounding the death of the murder suspect. 

Based on the initial investigation, the police officers were transporting the murder suspect along with a rape suspect back to Catanduanes on February 6 after their arrest in Pasig City.

The officers stopped along Rolando Andaya Highway to use the restroom and allowed both persons under police custody to get out of the vehicle and remove their handcuffs.

While the suspect’s handcuff was being removed, he allegedly attacked a police officer, grabbed a rifle, but failed to fire it because it had no chamber load. The suspect then fled toward a nearby forest where police chased him, which eventually led to a shootout.

Autopsy results showed the suspect sustained gunshot wounds to the shoulder, chest, and head.

The suspect’s wife and two children filed a homicide complaint against the four responding officers, who have been placed under restrictive custody at the Camarines Sur Provincial Police Office pending investigation.

Nartatez said the investigation will examine whether the officers strictly followed established protocols on the use of force.

“The PNP has clear protocols on the use of force, particularly on the principle of necessity and proportionality. Part of the investigation is to determine if the protocol was followed,” he said.

Nartatez instructed concerned units to ensure the proper preservation of all evidence including the firearms used, body-worn cameras, available CCTV footage, and radio communication logs for proper documentation and forensic examination.

He called on the public to allow the investigation to proceed and to refrain from speculation while facts are being established.