A family of three was killed in the Mindanao province of Lanao del Norte on Monday after the father allegedly fought back when police tried to arrest him.
According to Inquirer.net, the police went to the family’s house at about 4am to arrest the father, Bevino Laride Jr., who was a murder suspect.
Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Cabanag told ABS-CBN News that Laride fired a gun first, prompting the police to shoot in self-defense. He also said that the police were carrying full-automatic weapons and suggested that this could be the reason why two other family members were killed.
Apart from Laride, his partner Virginia Delibo — who was 3 months pregnant — and their 5-month-old son, Rexjun, also died.
According to Laride’s family, both his and Delibo’s bodies were riddled with bullets while the baby was hit in the calf and near the crotch.
Laride’s brother-in-law said Laride pleaded with police to stop shooting. He also said that the family could not have afforded the gun Laride supposedly fired.
Senior Inspector Roland Donor, the acting town police chief where the incident happened, told Inquirer.net that they are investigating the incident.
The police officers that shot the family are now in restrictive custody, their guns confiscated, while the investigation is ongoing.
The victims’ family have said they want to sue the police but can’t due to lack of funds; they called on President Rodrigo Duterte to help.
According to the Commission on Human Rights, more than 12,000 people have been killed in Duterte’s war on drugs, a figure the government disputes.
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