‘Quezon victim shot at close range’

MANILA, Philippines - One of the 13 men killed in last week’s alleged shootout with government forces in Atimonan, Quezon had been finished off, a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official revealed yesterday.

The source, privy to the investigation into the incident, disclosed that initial findings revealed there was “tattooing” or “contact fire” on the body of Paul Quiohilag, indicating a coup de grace.

“This means that he was shot at close range,” the source said.

The official said a re-autopsy of the cadavers revealed the shooters had used long firearms of still undetermined caliber.

Another source said Vic Siman, the alleged jueteng lord that was the supposed target of the operation, had no contact fire in the body.

The source said the NBI is trying to answer certain questions: Why was there a checkpoint? What was inside the bag and in the vehicles? Was there really a third vehicle? Where did the convoy come from and where was it going? Why of all places Atimonan, since the victims came from Bicol? 

“Is it because Atimonan is within their (police concerned) jurisdiction? The area was also ‘quarantined’ by the police,” the source said.

Initial investigation showed the gunfight broke out at around 3:20 p.m. of Jan. 6. The police Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) later went to the site at 5:46 p.m., the source said.

The source also revealed the NBI had finished the ballistics check on the two vehicles in Atimonan.

“We cannot say yet if those inside the vehicles also fired shots,” the source said.

The source also said there is still no conclusion if the first shots were fired in front of the vehicle, if the windows were rolled up, or if there was indeed a shootout.

The medico-legal team of the NBI has also conducted autopsy on eight of the 13 cadavers.

“We will try our best to identify what the positions of the victims were inside the vehicles. There will also be a turnover of physical evidence and reports of the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to the NBI on Wednesday,” the source said.

Sources earlier revealed the NBI was having difficulty in securing witnesses that could give credible information regarding the shootout.  – With Aurea Calica, Non Alquitran, Marvin Sy, Jaime Laude