Samar misencounter report out in 2 weeks: AFP

“Probably in two more weeks. The joint probe is not yet over. It can’t be haphazardly done because two big organizations are involved,” Detoyato said. (PNA photo)

MANILA — It will take another two weeks before the report on the tragic misencounter between police and Army troops in Sta. Rita, Samar last June 25 is released.

This was announced by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato in an interview with reporters Tuesday.

“Two weeks pa siguro, (Probably in two more weeks). Hindi (pa) tapos (ang) joint (AFP-Philippine National Police) probe (The joint probe is not yet over). Hindi pwedeng maging haphazard kasi dalawang malaking organization (ang involved) (It can’t be haphazardly done because two big organizations are involved),” he added.

Around 9: 20 a.m. of June 25, elements from the 1st Platoon, 805th Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8 of the PNP and troops from 87th Infantry Battalion had a miscounter in in Sitio Lonoy, Barangay San Roque, in Sta. Rita, Samar that resulted in the death six policemen and wounding of nine others.

Detoyato said the AFP-PNP Board of Inquiry is still looking on reports that the police officers have communicated with the military via cellphone and this prompted the investigators to collect and investigate all the mobile phones of the troops involved.

“May nag-coordinate daw thru cellphone so kinuha lahat ng cellphone tapos anuhin mga messages para malaman kung galing, saan nagsimula, kasi makikita naman sa time. Saan nagsimula tapos saan nagtapos kung nakarating ba sa baba. Kasi kung hindi nakarating hanggang dun sa baba, (There was somebody who coordinated through cellphone so all their cellphones were retrieved and then they are checking the messages to determine where did it come from, where did it start, because you will see the time in it. Where did it start, where it ended and if it really reached the ground. Because if this did not reach the ground,) we have to modify the structure kung paano mag-coordinate (on how to coordinate). Coordination lang talaga (It’s all about coordination), it will all boil down sa (to) coordination,” he added.