The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) assured there will be impartial investigation of the recent shooting incident involving the son of the late Police Brigadier General Marvin Manuel Pepino.
“We are doing everything na talagang fair at nagkuha tayo ng abogado para doon. We have reinforced our lawyers coming from the DCPO to support our investigation considering the fact na medyo malalaking pamilya itong involved and we are trying our best that yung lalabas sa investigation ay talagang balance in both parties at sa lahat ng mga tao na involved sa investigation. Kaya we requested the help yung ating assistance from our legal office to ensure that what we are doing is correct and fair for everybody,” said Police Colonel Alberto Lupaz, DCPO director, in an interview on Monday.
The shooting incident occurred early morning of July 2, 2022, at Lugar Bar in J. Camus Extension, Brgy. 9-A, Davao City, particularly within the premises of Esquena de Tavera building that led to the killing of Amir Pulanon Mangacop, 21 years old, student, and resident of Phase 5, El Rio Subdivision, Bacaca, Brgy. 19-B, Davao City.
The suspect, Marvin Rey Andrew Roflo Pepino, is a doctor and PNP Non-Uniformed Personnel of the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) and a resident of Davao City. He is in the custody of San Pedro Police Station for appropriate filing of charges.
“Seguro naiisip nyo bakit may baril siya. Kahit sinong sibilyan magkaroon ng baril as long as you have license to own and possess firearms and also a permit to carry outside of residence,” Lupaz said.
Lupaz said Pepino used his personal firearm.
NO MUGSHOTS
As of press time, there are no mugshots of Pepino released and according to Lupaz, this is to protect the interest of both parties.
“Sana hindi kayo magdamdam. Alam natin ang extent ng capability ng kalaban. We do not know kung ano ang kaya nilang gawin. Kaya nga as much as possible pino-protektahan natin yan. We have to protect the interest of both parties. Kaya nga we are trying our best kung ano yung statement ng ating mga police para maka-file ng kaso at the same time we do not know kung anong posibleng mangyari sa galit nila baka, kaya nga as much as possible hindi makalat ang picture niya kasi puwede kayang anuhin siya, for security reasons yun ang ginagawa natin. Pero puwede yan basta papayag ang kanilang abogado, walang problema sa amin,” Lupaz told media.
Edge Davao tried to take a photo of Pepino at the San Pedro Police Station but was not allowed by a police officer on duty unless his (Pepino) lawyers permit it.
“Alam niyo pag nakuha ng pictures yan, makakalat yan at kung kakalat yan puwede yang gamitin, na ito pala,” Lupaz explained.
Lupaz also assured that there is no special treatment extended to Pepino.
“Not all people will like the way we handle, hindi lahat gusto ang ginagawa namin kasi mayroon tayo kanya kanyang biases. But sa pulis ginawa namin ang trabaho namin. Napakabilis ng pangyayari. Ngayon yung pagputok ng baril na yun hindi aabot ng five minutes yun, ngayon kung mag responde sa police station kahit ma late siya ng 10 minutes, hindi niya talaga maabutan yun. Overall, ang police natin ginawa nila ang kanilang trabaho,” he said.
A VERY KIND PERSON
Lupaz described Pepino as a “very kind person that has no derogatory records.”
“Napakabait nun. Nagkasakit ako sa regional headquarters talagang tinulungan niya ako. He is very professional. Pero seguro nakainum lang. I will not comment more but sa akin lang pag makainum tayo minsan mawala tayo sa ating sarili. When it comes to his personality, he is a doctor, wala akong masabing derogatory record,” he said.
Lupaz said that based on Pepino’s statement, he was not able to control the people that were beating him, the reason why he fired. He added that Pepino was just trying to pacify the commotion where his “friend” was involved.
“Ang sabi sa report dahil daw sa kaibigan ni Dr. Pepino. May problema daw ang kanyang kaibigan at parang tumulong siya doon. Tinulungan lang niya na ma-pacify. Yun ang statement. Ngayon, pag mainit na ang labanan parang nasali na siya doon sa gulo at yun nabugbog siya. Allegedly pinagtulungan itong si Dr. Pepino ng mga kalalakihan na hindi ko kilala. Seguro sa dami ng taong bumugbog sa kanya feeling niya gusto na siyang patayin, may dala siyang baril, binunot at pinutok niya. As a result tinamaan yung isa doon yung Mangacop ang apelyido,” he added.
Lupaz clarified that the shooting incident happened outside the said bar.
“Hindi sila sa loob ng bar pero sa labas nangyari ang gulo. I cannot confirm kung pumasok sila sa bar,” he said.
DCPO is still waiting for a copy of the CCTV footage for a clear view of the incident. Lupaz said PS2 has yet to submit the CCTV to DCPO.
“I do not know if nasa possession na ng PS2 but we are trying and requesting the owner of the bar if possible can allow us to have a copy of the CCTV footage so that we can have a good view of the incident,” he said.
He said if found in the footage that Pepino is coming in and out of the bar with a gun, the establishment can be held liable also.
“Kung ma-establish na pumasok sila puwedeng ma-question ang establishment but as to liability, I cannot tell. Kailangan natin malaman na doon (inside the bar) sila nag-umpisa. Walang makapagsabi as of the moment na pumasok sila doon then lumabas at nag-away,” he added.
Lupaz emphasized to the bar owners that no firearms should be allowed inside their establishment.
LATE POLICE REINFORCEMENT
Lupaz also denied reports that police reinforcement came late in the area.
“Hindi. Andoon ang police natin. Ang totoo nandoon ang police natin kaso lang isa lang siya at hindi niya kaya sa dami ng involved by the time na dumating siya tumutok na ng baril. Ginawa naman ng pulis ang trabaho niya doon in fact na overwhelm siya base sa video na kumalat sa social media, niyakap niya doon si Pepino, sinipa pa rin. I don’t know that motivates them to do that kahit may pulis na sinipa rin nila si Pepino,” he said.
He explained that what was first reported was just a commotion.
“Ang una kasi nireport commotion lang kasi kung barilan ang ni report, marami ang mag- reinforce na armado rin pero basically pag commotion lang. Nagdevelop kasi ang situation, from commotion nagiging shooting. At that time medyo nauna ang pulis pero ang reinforcement, hindi yan automatic mabuti kung superman yan na pagtawag andiyan agad,” he said.
DCPO spokesperson Senior Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan said cases cannot be filed yet as Pepino has requested a preliminary investigation.
Lupaz said that the Police Regional Office (PRO 11) directed DCPO to see to it that the affidavit of the responding police is properly done, filing of cases should follow proper procedure and should be based on the truth.
