The chief of police of Rodriguez, Rizal and 19 other cops were relieved from their posts following the death of a three-year-old girl during a buy-bust operation last Saturday.
Relieved were Police Col. Resty Damaso and 19 policemen, 13 of whom were detailed at Damaso’s office while the six others were assigned to the Intelligence Unit of the Rizal Provincial Police Office.
The 20 policemen have been placed under the personnel and holding unit of the Rizal Provincial Police Office while investigation is ongoing.
Police Brig. Gen. Edward Carranza, Philippine National Police Region 4-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon area) director, said all those involved in the operation were asked to surrender their firearms for ballistics tests to determine who shot Kateleen Myca Ulpina, daughter of drug suspect Renato Ulpina, alias “Kato,” who was also killed during the incident.
The PNP Region 4-A Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division will lead the investigation.
The Rizal Provincial Police Office had earlier said that Kateleen died after she was allegedly used by her father as human shield during a shootout that happened after the operation in their house in Rodriguez. The girl succumbed to a bullet wound in the head.
Liza, Kateleen’s mother, said there was no truth to police claim that her father used her as a human shield as they were allegedly sleeping when the incident occurred. (Madelynne Dominguez)