Retired soldier shot dead by police at checkpoint in Quezon City

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) - A police officer shot a retired military for allegedly attempting to pull a gun on the cops at checkpoint in Quezon City.

The victim’s mother, however, claimed her son was suffering from post-traumatic disorder following his tour of duty during the Marawi siege in 2017.

The Quezon City Police District identified the victim as Winston Ragos, 34.

The suspect was identified as Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo, Jr. who was assigned with Fairview Police Station 5.

A police report said that at about 2:30 pm of April 21, Florendo and four police trainees from the Highway Patrol Group were manning the checkpoint along Maligaya Drive in Brgy. Pasong Putik, when Ragos approached the policemen and started shouting and intimidating them. 

The police officers asked Ramos to go home as he was violating the enhanced community quarantine, but the victim allegedly attempted to pull out a .38 caliber hand gun from his sling bag which prompted the suspect to shoot Ragos, the report said.

In a CCTV footage, nearby residents can be seen trying to stop the police from shooting the victim.

“Sabi ko, ‘Sir, may tama na ‘yan, wag niyo patulan.’ So sabi ng isang pulis…’Wag kayo makialam, wala akong pakialam. Papatayin namin ‘yan,” a witness told CNN Philippines, who asked not to be named.

[Translation: I said, ‘Sir, he is not in his right mind, just let him go.’ One cop replied…’Don’t bother us, mind your own business. We have to shoot him dead.’]

However, another witness said the victim did not have a gun inside his bag, after the police checked it and found that it only carried his quarantine pass.

The victim was rushed to the Commonwealth Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Merlyn, the victim’s mother, said her son was a member of the Armed Force of the Philippines who retired early due to his post-traumatic stress disorder following his assignment in Marawi City.

“Continuous po ang gamot nya," the mother told CNN Philippines. "Sometimes, di siya nakakainom dahil ayaw niya. Kapag successive na hindi nakakainom, doon nati-trigger."

[Translation: His medication was continuous. Sometimes, he didn't want to take medicines. When he wouldn't take his medicines for successive days, that’s when his disorder got triggered.]

But the mother noted that her son never dared to hurt anyone despite his disorder.

QCPD said Florendo will face criminal and administrative investigation after he voluntarily surrendered himself to higher authorities.