According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, “hindi po ‘yan poprotektahan ng Presidente. Kinokondena po natin iyan. Iimbestigahan, kakasuhan, lilitisin at mapaparusahan po natin ‘yang pulis na ‘yan. No ifs, no buts. Magkakaroon po ng katarungan dahil nakita naman po natin ang ebidensya. (The President will not protect [the policeman]. We are condemning the incident. The policeman involved will be investigated, charged, and punished. No ifs, no buts. There will be justice because we have seen that there is evidence).”
Sec. Roque sternly reiterated that police officers should not use their guns for personal reasons, rather for their protection while on duty.
“Lilinawin ko lang na hindi ito service-related na double murder. Ito po ay kung hindi tayo nagkakamali ay isang away tungkol sa pag-posisyon sa lupa. So ang pulis na ‘yan hindi pwedeng mag-invoke ng kahit anong depensa na may kinalaman sa kanyang katungkulan ang pagpatay na iyan (I’ll just clarify that this is not a service-related double murder. If we are not mistaken, this is a row on land position. So the policeman cannot invoke any defense in regards with his rank in the murder)”
Moreover, Roque reacted to criticisms on the decision to suspend gun muzzling for this year, saying that gun muzzling is only used to ensure that guns will not be used as an alternative to fireworks in the New Year celebration. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
