2 cops shoot up bar in Tondo

MANILA, Philippines - Two drunk police officers are facing charges after one of them allegedly fired his gun on a dare and injured a customer in a bar in Manila before dawn yesterday.

Senior Police Officer 2 Ryan Marcelo and PO2 Ramada Mupas, both assigned at the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters support unit, were already reeking of liquor when they entered the videoke bar along Tayuman street at around 12:30 a.m., according to waitress Bea Guevarra.

Mupas told The STAR they came from a birthday celebration and decided to continue drinking at the bar.

Guevarra said two customers from another table who knew the policemen greeted them and goaded Marcelo into firing his gun.

She said Marcelo obliged by firing his service pistol at the floor. Shrapnel hit the left ear of Charlito Tesmo, one of the customers at the bar.

Though bleeding, Tesmo said he and his friend hid in the back of the bar when the two policemen refused to leave the establishment as members of the MPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit cordoned off the area.

For two hours, the SWAT personnel tried to negotiate with Marcelo and Mupas. Marcelo’s father rushed to the bar to convince his son to surrender, but the two lawmen refused.

The impasse ended when one of the SWAT police officers used a stun gun on Marcelo, who was taken to the city prosecutor’s office and charged with slight physical injury and alarm and scandal.

Mupas was detained at the MPD’s general assignment and investigation section.