I have received the initial results of the fact-finding investigation conducted by the Traffic Management Group into a shooting incident involving elements of Task Force Limbas and a group of three car-riding men on the night of November 7, 2005 at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City .

The 7-man investigating body chaired by TMG Deputy Director for Administration, Senior Superintendent Luisito L Maralit, looked into two issues namely; 1) whether or not the operation was legitimate and if so, whether or not the PNP Operational Procedures were followed, and 2) whether the shooting was based on justifiable grounds.

While I have given the probe body until today to wind up their inquiry, they have requested for more time to conduct their investigation in view of alleged victims who have come out in the open and wanted to give their testimonies to the Committee.

However, the call of the times is to speed-up the investigation so as not to unduly affect other ongoing operations, and to have a more thorough and exhaustive investigation by an independent body. Hence, I am turning over the investigation to the Internal Affairs Service headed by Inspector General Alexis Canonizado.

The IAS is mandated to initiate motu propio investigation of cases when PNP members discharges a firearm or when there is reason to believe that certain aspects of Police Operational Procedures were not followed.

Meantime, I reiterate my guidance to the TMG and other PNP operating units to aggressively sustain the momentum of our ongoing campaign against carjacking and highway robbery.