The third-year law student, who was shot and chased by intelligence operatives of the Dumaguete City Police last week, said yesterday that he and his family have decided not to file a criminal complaint against the policemen.

Jian Wasawas, 24, of Barangay Daro, Dumaguete City, and a student of Foundation University, said that, personally, he would have wanted to charge the erring policemen.

But after a discussion between him and his family members, they decided to forgive the policemen, he added.

Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza, director of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, had admitted earlier that there were procedural lapses on the part of the operatives, led by Insp. Don Richmond Conag.

Carranza added that even without a criminal complaint from Wasawas, he will recommend an investigation and possible administrative sanctions against the policemen, who claimed that the incident was a case of mistaken identity.

Wasawas said that during a command conference called by Carranza, he confronted the whole intelligence team of about 10 policemen and secured a promise from them that the incident will not happen again.

“It was easy to say that what happened was a case of mistaken identity, but what if I got killed?” Wasawas asked.

He said he demanded a formal apology from the policemen, and added he is satisfied with the way Carranza is dealing with the administrative and punitive sanctions.

Carranza has submitted a pre-charge report to the PNP Regional Office 7 on orders of Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, PRO-7 regional director.

He added that, aside from Conag and the intelligence operatives, Dumaguete police chief, Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino, will also be included in the probe, under the principle of command responsibility.*JFP

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