Alagar to probe into El Salvador couple’s death

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

CAMP Alagar would start an investigation into Sunday’s police operation in El Salvador City in Misamis Oriental that resulted in the shooting death of a man and his wife who was seven months pregnant.

Supt. Surki Sereñas, Camp Alagar spokesman, said members of the El Salvador City Police Office, Macasandig police station in Cagayan de Oro and the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group who participated in the raid were already instructed to shed light.

Police earlier alleged that Mark John Pagaluyos, 31, and his 30-year old pregnant wife Sheryl Grace Tapales were killed because they were armed and fought back. They succumbed to multiple gunshots to the head and all over.

Pagaluyos was from Zone 9, Barangay Poblacion in El Salvador while Tapales was from Barangay Kamasagan, Lala town in Lanao del Norte.

“We also expect that the Regional Internal Affairs Section of the PNP to conduct a separate investigation. The raid has become controversial,” Sereñas said.

There were allegations that the police just barged into the house of the couple and started shooting without provocation. Pagaluyos’s mother said neighbors have claimed that her son and his wife were merely sleeping when they were shot.

A member of the raiding team earlier claimed that Pagaluyos and the pregnant Tapales fired shots, prompting them to shoot back. Police also claimed Pagaluyos was a “high-value target” and was a member of a notorious crime group in Lanao del Norte.

But Sereñas said Tapales was just hit in the crossfires. “PNP members from the municipality of Lala, Lanao del Norte declared the subject [Pagaluyos] as armed and dangerous. Sad to say, naapil gyud intawon ang buros niya nga asawa,” he said.

Earlier, police authorities said the killings were a result of a five-minute shootout. They alleged that Pagaluyos and the pregnant Tapales had fought back with a caliber .45 caliber pistol and caliber .22 Magnum revolver.

Police also alleged that they found two sachets of suspected shabu, marijuana and several drug paraphernalia in the house.

Sereñas said the operation was a result of a surveillance conducted by the police in El Salvador, and that the suspect was also identified in Macasandig as an alleged supplier of drugs.

“Wala kita’y lain nga ginabasol si John Mark ra gihapon tungod kay pag-abot sa polis misukol man siya. Nagpaila man ang mga polis before the shootout. There was aggression,” he said.

But Sereñas said Camp Alagar would look into whether or not the rules of engagement were followed.