On Apr. 21, 2:30 p.m. at Brgy. Pasong Putik, Quezon City, Winston Ragos, a 34-year-old retired Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel, was surrounded by five policemen and gunned down by Sgt. Daniel Florendo.
According to the police report, Florendo, who was on duty at the time, reported to his colleague Marvin Serioso requesting for back-up after spotting Ragos with a sling bag that allegedly contained a firearm. The policemen reported that Ragos approached them at their quarantine control point and started “shouting and uttering intimidating words.”
Florendo then checked Ragos’ bag and allegedly found a handgun. He consequently demanded for Ragos to put his hands up, but the latter reached inside his bag instead. Florendo then shot Ragos twice on the chest.
The police report said that Ragos was in possession of a Smith & Wesson Model 38 without a serial number loaded with four cartridges.
The incident was caught on video. The five policemen surrounded Ragos who was at a standstill with his hands already up and his back turned to the police. Nearby residents who witnessed the incident were telling the police to stop the shooting. The witnesses claimed that the man had no handgun in his sling bag.
Quezon City Police District director Police Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo said that Florendo will undergo administrative investigation for his actions. He voluntarily surrendered the service firearm he used during the shooting.
On Apr. 1, President Duterte gave the police an order to shoot to kill. “My orders are sa pulis pati military, pati mga barangay, na pagka ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay nalagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead! Tingnan natin. Patay. Eh kaysa manggulo kayo diyan, eh libing ko na kayo.”
Last Apr. 20, policemen were also seen barging into a condominium at Bonifacio Global City with firearms amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). The Philippine National Police (PNP) has also been granted powers to arrest ECQ violators without a warrant of arrest.
Header photo screengrabbed from video posted by Amazing Juan on Facebook
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