Ombudsman finds basis to charge ex-Manila policeman for epileptic’s death in drug raid
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2019 08:54:25 +0000
THE Office of the Ombudsman has found basis to charge a former police officer with the death of an epileptic in 2017 during a buy-bust operation in Manila.
Then-Police Officer 3 Gerry Geñalope allegedly shot dead Djastin Lopez who was having an epileptic seizure during the raid on May 18, 2017. Geñalope claimed that he acted in self-defense.
“Foremost, there is probable cause or such facts as are sufficient to engender a well-founded belief that a crime has been committed and that respondent is probably guilty thereof, particularly of Murder, but only as against [then-]PO3 Geñalope,” the Ombudsman said in a 10-page joint resolution.
“By invoking self-defense, he admitted inflicting the fatal injuries that caused the death of Djastin,” it said.
The Ombudsman ordered Geñalope’s dismissal from the service as it found him administratively liable for grave misconduct, with the alternative penalty of fine equivalent to his one year salary in case he is no longer in the government service.
It ordered that the Interior secretary and the Philippine National Police chief be provided a copy of the resolution “for information and implementation of the penalty.” REINA C. TOLENTINO
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