Police Officer 3 Franklin Kho said yesterday that he has no intention to kill when he drove the police mobile that repeatedly rammed the protesters during a violent dispersal in front of the United States Embassy last October 19.
He said what he did was “self-preservation” and he did not intend to cause harm, as lawmakers grilled him, Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo, ground commander of the Manila Police District, and other police officials over the incident.
“It was self-preservation, your honor. No intention to kill,” he told the panel when asked by ACT Teachers partylist Rep. France Castro if he has intention to kill the rallyists. Kho, who was the driver of the police van that rammed through protesters, was relieved and was transferred to Regional Police and Holding Accounting Unit (RPHAU).
During the hearing, Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate even asked Kho if he was in the right frame of mind when he repeatedly rammed the protesters.
“Nataranta lang po ako nung may sumigaw na susunugin ang sasakyan,” Kho said.
Zarate said the Philippine National Police (PNP) should review its guidelines in deploying its forces to its Civil Disturbance Management units.
“Kailangan ma-indict si Police Officer Kho at kelangan managot sya,” he said.
He even expressed frustration when Kho and Pedrozo were only transferred to the RPHAU and the Eastern Police District, respectively, and were not administratively sanctioned. (Charissa M. Luci)