By Chito Chavez

National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Rogelio Casurao stressed on Friday that the pieces of evidence at the crime scene are “less credible’’ if gathered by the cops who are involved in the shooting and killing of an ex-military man at a checkpoint in Quezon City.

Casurao said that the scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) should have handled the pieces of evidence in the incident where a former Army soldier, Private First Class Winston Ragos was shot dead.

In an interview with ANC, Casurao also noted that the allegations might not be fully appreciated if there was a mishandling of the evidence.

“There are rules governing… if it falls short on the rules of handling of evidence, then they might lose the contention that the victim was himself armed with (a) .38 caliber (gun),’’ Casurao said.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas refuted Casurao’s contention.

He insisted that being the first responders, the police officers at the checkpoint may gather the pieces of evidence which will be turned over to the SOCO or to the investigator assigned to the case.

In a separate interview, Sinas assured that the evidence would not have been tampered if police officers came in, adding that their concern was to secure the crime scene and possibly prevent Ragos’ relatives from going to the crime scene and “biglang kumuha doon’’ (suddenly get something there).

Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo, who shot Ragos, insisted that the ex-soldier was armed and was hurling invectives at him and others manning the checkpoint prompting him to shoot.

He has undergone online inquest proceedings and homicide charges were filed against him.

Read more: Ex-soldier shot dead at checkpoint