THE bullet entry points and the number of wounds he had sustained has triggered a thorough investigation on the death of the young intelligence officer of the Pasay City police who died in a raid on the lair of a murder suspect on Sunday.
What he wants to be cleared about, according to national police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, are the circumstances that led to the death of Senior Inspector Manuel Junior Taytayon what with the doubts and speculations that cropped up, especially from the latter’s own family.
“We assured them there will be an investigation on what really happened during the operation and the real cause of death of Senior Inspector Taytayon,” said Albayalde.
Taytayon led the operation against a certain Marc Delemios inside the house of his relatives in Barangay 148 in Pasay City at around 2:30 p.m. on November 25.
Delemios, who was killed in the operation, was able to escape from the Pasay City in November last year, or a few days after he surrendered over the death of model Grab driver Gerardo Maquidato Jr.
But during the initial inspection of Taytayon’s body, forensics experts from the police’s Crime Laboratory found out that the entry points of the two of the four bullet wounds he suffered were on his back.
This resulted in the speculations that he could have been hit by friendly fire from his own men, or somebody from his group wants him dead and used the operation against Delemios as an opportunity to liquidate him.
The findings have also triggered other speculations on all the aspects of the operations, including questions on why Taytayon was on the frontline of the operation when he was supposed to be directing his men being the intelligence chief of the Pasay City police.
As initial steps of the probe, Albayalde said all the members of the police team which participated in the Delemios operation were asked to surrender their guns to be subjected to ballistics examination.
All the policemen who joined the operation were also subjected to background check and in-depth probe. This amid speculations of the involvement of some cops in illegal drugs in connection with the nature of the job of Taytayon, an intelligence chief who also runs after illegal drugs activities.
But the initial results of then Crime Laboratory investigation disclosed that the two slugs recovered inside Taytayon’s body had matched with the handgun used by Delemios.
This led to question as to how Taytayon obtained two more bullet wounds he had suffered.
“We cannot really say as to where did that bullet wounds come from because the slugs were not recovered. But the two bullet wounds from the recovered slugs (fired by Delemios) were fatal, meaning, it is the reason why he died,” said Albayalde.
The official also gave explanation as to why Taytayon might have been hit in the back.
He said that since the suspect initially fired his gun several times after he was cornered inside the comfort room, the instinct of Taytayon was to seek cover and this could be the reason why he was hit twice.
“Naka-slant ‘yung tama niya sa likod. Although the entry points are on the back, the slug directions were slanted, may angle,” said Albayalde.
But Albayalde said they would respect the decision of the family to seek the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the conduct of the investigation.
FRONTLINE
Albayalde said that being a young officer, it is natural that Taytayon was aggressive and leading the charge against the suspect.
Taytayon is a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class 2012.
“When I was a junior officer I also do that. I don’t know now pero nung kami medyo mainit ka, you always want to be first. Hindi normal pero basically nangyayari,” explained Albayalde on why Taytayon was on the frontline.
It was learned that Taytayon was supposed to be on a day-off but when he was tipped off about the suspect, he immediately assembled his men and led the operation.
PROMOTION
Albayalde also disclosed that they are planning to give a posthumous promotion to Taytayon—from Senior Inspector to Chief Inspector.
“We will recommend that for posthumous promotion. What he did is a proof that there are brave heroes from the police and the military,” said Albayalde.
Taytayon was posthumously awarded with the Medalya ng Kagalingan for his bravery in the conduct of the operation. (Aaron Recuenco)
