Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the immediate arrest and detention of four police officers identified in a Good Friday shooting incident in Barangay Irawan that left three people dead on April 3.

According to a report by RH Edniel Parrosa on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan, during the PNP flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, Nartatez directed regional directors in MIMAROPA to promptly apprehend the officers who allegedly responded to the shooting incident in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Among those killed were two police officers and one personnel from the Bureau of Corrections.

Initial investigation revealed that the incident stemmed from a dispute during a wake, which authorities responded to.

Nartatez disclosed that the responding officers were allegedly under the influence of alcohol and were not authorized by their immediate supervisors to conduct the operation.

“Ang mga pulis natin nandun sa kalsada, nag-responde, naka-uniform, naka-civilian attire, Nakaresponde under the influence of alcohol, apparently, and that is being investigated,” Nartatez explained.

He added that the incident could have been avoided if proper supervision had been exercised by senior officers.

“Hindi naman mangyayari sana ‘yun if only our police officers, especially the chief of police, the provincial directors, are truly guiding our personnel,” he added,” he said.

Nartatez has also ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to conduct a probe into the police response in the incident.

The PNP chief assured the public that there would be "no cover-up or whitewashing" of the case and that those responsible would be held accountable.

Earlier, the chief of police of Puerto Princesa, Police Office Director Col. Cristine Tabdi had already been relieved from post as part of accountability measures following the incident.