The National Police Commission yesterday started looking into the reported ?rubout? in Quezon City of three suspected car thieves by policemen last Tuesday.

Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Eduardo Escueta said he has ordered Chief Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula, police chief, to furnish the names of the officers in the operation.

He said the television news footage showed a policeman in civilian clothes drag out one suspect from a bullet-riddled car and shot him at close range.

?That was so disturbing,? he told Standard Today, adding that another officer in short pants was caught on camera firing his gun into the immobilized vehicle.

?It looks like the policemen did not give the suspects a chance to surrender.?

At Camp Crame, Metro Manila Police Chief Leopoldo Bataoil said an investigation was under way, adding that Napolcom, the House of Representatives and the Commission on Human Rights were welcome to make their own inquiries.

?I already ordered [Gatdula] to disarm the officers involved, restrict them to limits, coordinate with and assure the CHR chief of transparency.?

Bataoil said National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa had indicated the organization would not tolerate any human rights violation.

Gatdula said a composite team had engaged the suspected car thieves on board a stolen Honda Civic (AED-115) at the corner of Edsa and NIA road.

?It was a joint operation [with] the Highway Patrol Group. We are willing to face investigation by the Napolcom, CHR and the Lower House,? he said, noting the participation of the Anti-Carnapping Unit.

The slain suspects, Gatdula said, were Alfredo Pinentel, 26; Rolando Batapa, 26; and Romeo de Guzman, 27; all with pending cases of robbery, theft, and frustrated murder in the courts of Pasay and Makati.

?When suspects pose extreme danger to the life and safety of law enforcers, the necessary force can be applied under the provisions of the Police Operational Procedures,? he told Ancar members in a brief talk yesterday morning.

Gatdula said his office has formed its own probe panel led by Supt. Elmo San Diego, deputy for administration, along with the chiefs of investigation and detection management division, internal affairs service, legal unit, and criminal investigation and detection unit to determine if any lapse was made.

CHR Chairman Leila de Lima said a team would handle the case, indicating that it would be premature to say whether there was a rubout or not.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon said he would file a resolution asking the Batasan to make an inquiry but Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, chairman of the House committee on public safety and order, said he would act after getting Verzosa?s report on Crame?s findings.

Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, spokesman, said the shootout started with a car chase between the suspects and Highway Patrol Group operatives in Mandaluyong City.

He said the operatives called the Quezon City Police District and requested for checkpoints while the pursuit was ongoing.

?The car chase ended after the Honda Civic?s occupants allegedly fired at the pursuing policemen. The policemen fired back and killed three of the suspects,? Bartolome said, describing the shooting on Edsa corner NIA road. Ferdinand Fabella, Joel M. Sy Egco, Romie A. Evangelista, Roy Pelovello