PNP: Friendly fire killed cop in Pampanga kidnap rescue

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday confirmed that “friendly fire” killed a cop and wounded another in the recent rescue operation of Chinese kidnap victims in Angeles City, Pampanga.

PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said ballistic and crossmatching examinations were done. The slug found on the body of Police Staff Sergeant  matched the gun of the police who admitted the incident.

“Lahat po ito ay isinailalim sa ballistics at crossmatching (All of these were subjected to ballistics and crossmatching),” she said in a press conference.

“Lumalabas nga po doon sa na-recover sa slug sa katawan po ni Sergeant Santiago ay nag-match po yun sa baril ng pulis na umamin na aksidente po niyang na-squeeze yung trigger na nakatama po doon sa dalawang pulis natin,” she added.

(The bullet recovered from the body of Sergeant Santiago matched the gun of the policeman who admitted that he accidentally squeezed the trigger that hit our two policemen.)

Complaints for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and serious physical injury were filed against the policeman, Fajardo said.

The patrolman is under the custody of the PNP - Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG).

On August 3, one police officer was killed while another one was wounded during a rescue of two kidnapped Chinese in Angeles City, according to the AKG.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Eden Accad and Police Staff Sergeant Nelson Santiago were brought to Angeles University Foundation Medical Center in Angeles City for treatment

However, Santiago was pronounced dead on arrival. He sustained a gunshot wound on the left side of his chest which affected his lung and aorta.

“Tatlo po sila na pumasok dito sa madilim na area. Ito pong member po ng entering team ay nakita po ang baril. May nakitang baril na nakatutok po at accidentally ay napindot po niya yung trigger,” Fajardo said.

(There are three of them who entered this dark area. This member of the entering team saw a gun. He saw a gun being pointed and he accidentally pulled the trigger.)

“Ang una pong tinamaan ay yung wounded, yung kasalukuyang naka-confine po sa ospital dyan sa Angeles…So lumusot po yun through and through yung [bala] kay Accad at yung bullet po na yun ay lumusot sa likod niya at yun po yung tumama kay Sergeant Santiago,” she said.

(The first one to be hit was the wounded one, the one who is currently confined in the hospital there in Angeles...So the bullet went through and through Accad and that bullet went through his back and hit Sergeant Santiago.)

Then, the patrolman brought the two police officers to the hospital and admitted that he was the one who accidentally shot them, according to Fajardo.

The PNP is also investigating the police operation as it is planning to file an administrative case in connection with the incident. 

According to Fajardo, the police officers were not wearing bullet vests during the operation and the firearm that killed Santiago was a 5.56 armalite gun.