In yet another incident of police brutality in the Philippines, a policeman identified as Police Master Sergeant Hensie Zinampan fatally shot a 52-year-old elderly woman named Lilybeth Valdez on the evening of 31st May in Quezon City.
Image credit: PNP-PIO
Valdez had reportedly been buying cigarettes at a store in Barangay Greater Fairview when Zinampan appeared. The policeman had followed her while hiding his gun behind his back.
A heated confrontation began between the two, during which Zinampan, who was said to be drunk at the time of the incident according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), pulled Valdez’s hair and drew his gun to shoot her at point-blank range. The incident was recorded on a video that’s now trending on social media.
According to the PNP, Zinampan had had a dispute with Valdez’s son earlier in May. Valdez’s daughter also told the police investigators that Zinampan had threatened to harm them after the said scuffle.
Image credit: Philippine National Police
PNP Chief General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar has already responded to the killing and said he is now ordering his team to fast-track the administrative as well as the criminal case against Zinampan. Zinampan will also be fired immediately.
“Pinapa-madali ko na ang administrative cases laban sa pulis na ito para mapabilis na din ang pagtanggal sa kanya sa PNP. Bukod ito sa criminal case na pinamamadali ko na rin para mabigyan ng hustisya ang biktima,” he added, which can be translated as “I’m already asking [my team] to fast-track the administrative cases against this police, so that he can be fired immediately. This is apart from the criminal case which I’m also expediting so that the victim can soon be given justice.”
Image credit: Hensie Zinampan
In a Facebook screenshot circulating among netizens, it seems that Zinampan had previously commented on the Tarlac shooting that involved former police officer Jonel Nuezca shooting a mother and son in December 2020.
He claimed that the “the sin of [Nuezca] is not the sin of the entire PNP,” and that he was “proud to be a good cop.” The original link to the Facebook post is not available.
It’s disheartening that police brutality is repeatedly occurring within the ranks of policemen who are tasked to protect citizens against criminals.
We hope that a thorough investigation will be carried out, and that justice will soon be served for the sake of Valdez and her family.
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Cover image adapted from: PNP-PIO, Philippine National Police
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