Mother of 3-year-old girl who died in Rizal buy-bust op belies police’s claim

The mother of a 3-year-old girl who died in the middle of a police operation in Rodriguez, Rizal belied authorities’ claim that her daughter was used as a human shield by his drug suspect father, according to a report by Bam Alegre on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Wednesday.

“Inuulit ko po, walang human shield na nangyari,” said the mother of 3-year-old Baby Kateleen Myca Ulpina at the wake in Rodriguez.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday said Myca is "the latest casualty of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.” Myca’s father Renato Dolofrina also died in the operation. 

According to the mother who refused to be identified, the police’s version of the buy-bust operation was incorrect.

She said they were sleeping when the police entered their home and smashed their window, adding that the authorities did not show any documents supporting the legality of the operation.

The mother and three of her children immediately ran upstairs, but Myca did not leave her father’s side.

Myca was hit by a stray bullet, her mother claimed.

“Isa lang po talaga ang gusto kong mangyari—hustisya para sa nawala kong anak. Kung suspek na talaga nila 'yung tatay , dapat tatay na lang. ‘Di na nila dinamay 'yung bata. Tatlong taon e. Ang sakit,” the mother said.

Police claimed Dolofrina (whose real surname is Ulpina as per police) or alias “Kato” and his unidentified cohort were armed with a caliber .45 handgun and a caliber .38 pistol.

They resisted arrest and allegedly shot it out with Police Senior Master Sergeant Conrado Cabigao Jr. after supposedly sensing that they were transacting with an undercover cop, according to the police.

Myca's mother said her daughter was smart and loved to take selfies. She would have turned four years old on July 31. The interment will be on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Dolofrina’s wake was held in a separate location care of his relatives who asked for privacy.

PNP side

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it is looking into the death of Ulpina, even though it maintained that the child was used as a "human shield" by the suspect.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac said the girl was caught in a crossfire when the target of the buy-bust operation decided to shoot it out with the policemen.

"Ito ay tinitignan ng pulisya dahil ang pangyayari ay mukhang ginamit na human shield itong anak ng suspek so, well, masasabi natin na nadamay sa crossfire dahil mabilis po ang pangyayari," Banac said. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News