Ermita cops negative for gunpowder residue

CEBU, Philippines —  The four members of Carbon Police Station who were involved in the drug raid that led to the death of a 4-year-old boy in Barangay Ermita last Tuesday tested negative for gunpowder residue.

The result of the paraffin test conducted on the four policemen was forwarded by the Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO) to Police Regional Office (PRO) – 7 last Friday.

In a statement released by the PNP national headquarters, the result showed that the four Drug Enforcement unit (DEU) personnel of Carbon Police Station did not fire their handguns during the operation.

“This means that the four DEU operatives have not fired their handguns hence, may not have been responsible of the death of Skyler (Blader Skyler Abatayo),”

“While the four DEU operatives were reportedly found negative in the paraffin tests, we still could not totally discount their responsibility on the death of Skyler pending the outcome of the investigation,” part of the official statement reads.

However, Camp Crame stressed that a thorough investigation will be conducted to find out the real culprit and resolve the case.

The national headquarters also ordered the immediate relief of the four policemen involved and for them to surrender their service firearms for ballistic examination.

The PNP headquarters also assured that it will not hesitate to file any appropriate administrative or criminal charges if it the culpability of the personnel is established after a thorough investigation.

Personnel of PRO-7 and the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) are conducting a manhunt operation against the four drug personalities escaped during anti-illegal drug operations that led to the death of Skyler.

Allegedly, one of the suspects fired his undetermined caliber of firearm as they made an escape.  The bullet reportedly pierced through the wall of the adjacent house where Skyler was studying.

It can be recalled that on Tuesday morning, four DEU personnel of Carbon Police responded to a report of an ongoing illegal drug activities in Sitio Bato, Barangay Ermita.

When the police arrived, two of them went inside the house and caught four men, two were allegedly sniffing while the two others were repacking shabu.

Based on the statement given by the policemen involved, one of the subjects twisted the arm of one policeman who barged in and a minor scuffle ensued.

One of the subjects pulled out a gun and fired at the police, prompting them to move out while the men escaped through a window.

Later, the police returned to attend to the child who was hit by the stray bullet.

The Investigation Detection and Management Branch (IDMB) of CCPO, the lead agency in the investigation already assured the public that they will conduct a fair and balance investigation. —MBG  (FREEMAN)