Sinas says operatives’ lapses led to ‘misencounter’ that killed cop

Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), and Colonel Manuel Abrugena, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) speak during a press conference on Thursday, May 2, 2019, at the PRO-7 headquarters. CDN Digital photo | Delta Dyrecka Letigio

CEBU CITY, Philippines–Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said the members of the Provincial Intelligence Branch-Drug Enforcement Unit (PIB-DEU) who were responsible for the death of a Cebu City cop on May 1, 2019 had lapses in their operation.

Sinas said that the operatives, who visited Police Corporal Felciano Yballe, Jr. of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to ask his help in tracking down a suspect for the killing of Police Executive Master Sergeant Junard Cinco, failed to coordinate properly with Yballe, causing the misencounter.

Among the lapses include the failure of the team to wear their uniforms. Since they were bringing long firearms,  Sinas said Yballe may have not recognized the team and he could have been shocked of their presence at an early hour of the day.

Sinas said  Yballe had also been paranoid with the series of threats he received from drug syndicates. CCPO received reports that a P200,000 award money was set up for the death of Yballe.

Read more: Sinas: Corporal Yballe died in a misencounter with fellow police officers

The operatives also failed to coordinate with the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), who could have informed Yballe of the operation.

Sinas said the PIB-DEU sought Yballe’s help because one of the tracker team members was a classmate of Yballe and knew that he was familiar of the terrain of Sinsin, where Yballe served for some time as a barangay police.

“Walay coordination, wala naka uniporme, wala nailhan. (There was no coordination. They were not wearing uniform and they were not recognized),” said Sinas.

Sinas said that in the miscounter, both Yballe and the operatives may have been at fault.

He said PRO-7 is saddened by the fact that a policeman died in a misencounter that could have been prevented with the proper coordination and information. He said  they will be helping the bereaved family in the expenses of the burial.

Sinas also said that the 18 members of the PIB-DEU have been relieved from the team and will be transferred temporarily to the Regional Personnel Holding Administrative Office (RPHAO) in the regional headquarters pending investigation.

Director General Oscar Albayalde has instructed the Regional Internal Affairs Service in Central Visayas (RIAS-7) to conduct an internal investigation on how the misencounter happened.

Sinas also directed Colonel Royina Garma, the director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to conduct an investigation on the incident and identify the responsible people.

He said that charges of homicide may be filed against those who will be proven to have killed Yballe in the misencounter but the family should also be willing to file charges against those responsible.

Those who will be charged may be dismissed from their police service as well.

“Dili man sila tanan involved. I-find out lang nato kinsa tong nagpaboto. (Not everyone was involved. We will find out those who shot at Yballe),” said Sinas.

Sinas said the temporarily relieved personnel will be able to return back to their service in the PIB-DEU once they are cleared of the investigation. No substitutions will also be done before the investigation is over.

He said he will allow the investigation to continue without pressure so the results can be accurate.

Read more: Cop assigned at CPPO’s drug enforcement unit killed in Toledo City ambush

Meanwhile, the hot pursuit for the suspects of the death of CCPO cop, Police Executive Master Sergeant Junard Cinco, who was shot dead in Toledo City on April 30, will continue.

Sinas said that a new tracking team has been deployed for the Cinco case and they will continue with the investigation despite the recent incidents. /bmjo