Laguna cops to face homicide over minor’s slay to face homicide

MANILA, Philippines — Homicide charges will be filed against 10 intelligence officers of the Laguna police tagged in the killing of a minor during an anti-drug operation in Biñan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

The mother of 16-year-old victim Johndy Helis Maglinte decided to press charges against the officers, according to PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

The PNP will file the charges before the city prosecutor’s office.

“The kid has been buried. The mother gave a statement to our fact-finding team and they will file a case,” Eleazar said in a press conference.

“But I would like to say that since there is a complainant and we learned that someone died and that the bullet came from a police (firearm), we will file the case,” he added.

The minor’s family said that he and his companion Antonio Dalit were shot dead while handcuffed.

Eleazar said no witnesses have yet come forward to corroborate the family’s claim.

“I’m not saying that I’m protecting or covering up our officers. But there’s no evidence based on the autopsy report. There were no indications that they were handcuffed. Only witnesses can say that they were killed while in handcuffs,” Eleazar said.

Meanwhile, Eleazar said the PNP is looking for more donors for body cameras that could be used by police officers during anti-crime operations to ensure transparency and accountability.

He said mayors, private individuals and groups have committed to donate body cameras to help equip police officers in provinces and cities outside Metro Manila.

The PNP procured 2,696 body cameras worth P289 million, which are now used by several units mostly in the National Capital Region.