ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is preparing to file three criminal cases against an optometrist who allegedly rammed a store and threatened responding police officers in Barangay Baldoza, La Paz, on October 11.
ICPO director Col. Wilbert Parilla confirmed that investigators are preparing charges of direct assault, attempted homicide, and reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property against the suspect.
Parilla explained that the charges stem from the suspect’s alleged attempt to run down responding police officers with his vehicle during the confrontation.
According to the police official, officers fired their service firearms as a last resort after they perceived the moving vehicle as a threat to their lives.
“The lives of our personnel were in danger. The use of firearms was a last resort under the circumstances they were facing,” Parilla said.
Addressing public concerns regarding the multiple bullet holes on the vehicle’s windshield and other parts, Parilla clarified that the officers’ sole intent was to stop the vehicle.
He noted that the nature and speed of the incident contributed to the vehicle being hit in several areas as the officers responded to the perceived threat.
However, the ICPO chief emphasized that the police force does not tolerate abuse or violations of operational procedures by its personnel.
He said the office has initiated a motu proprio investigation to determine whether the responding officers properly observed established police operational procedures during the incident.
“We do not tolerate any form of abuse. That is why we initiated a motu proprio investigation to ensure that the actions of our personnel will be assessed fairly and that the proper procedures were followed,” Parilla said.
The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the police response, including the use of firearms, as the ICPO proceeds with the preparation of the cases against the suspect./PN
