MANILA, Philippines - At least 11 cases of indiscriminate firing of guns nationwide were reported, including two police officers in Metro Manila and three stray bullet victims in Southern Tagalog, based on records gathered by the Philippine National Police (PNP) the week before Christmas Day.
The sketchy report from the PNP showed that two of the 11 cases of indiscriminate firing involved two policemen in Metro Manila and three firearms were seized.
The policemen apparently ignored the warning issued by PNP officials to prevent indiscriminate firing of guns during the Christmas holidays.
Records from the PNP National Operations Center showed there were 11 incidents of indiscriminate firing with one stray bullet victim from Dec. 16 to 24.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said the concerned officers are now under police investigation.
A police officer allegedly fired his gun during a heated argument with his wife in Binondo, Manila on Monday night, hours after PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina led the sealing of firearms of police officers in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The PNP-NOC did not provide details on the other policeman involved in illegal discharge of his firearm in Metro Manila.
The Binondo incident was recorded on the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera of Barangay 290 last Dec. 22.
“The action star-like style of PO2 Argel Balligud, assigned at the Manila Police District (MPD) station 5, was captured on the CCTV of the barangay,” said chairman Ding Tan Ching of Barangay 290.
Ching told The STAR that the incident took place at around 11:45 p.m. at 641 Tomas Pinpin Street and the CCTV footage indicated that the situation lasted for about 10 minutes.
Ching said in a telephone interview the policeman, while arguing with his wife and with a child in tow, suddenly pulled out his gun and fired off a few rounds in succession.
Ching said he reported the incident to the MPD, which is now investigating the incident.
The STAR tried but failed to contact Balligud for comment.
Ching also filed a complaint against Balligud.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria relieved yesterday Balligud from MPD station 5 and assigned him to the main police headquarters.
Valmoria ordered the filing of grave misconduct and illegal discharge of firearm against Balligud.
“He will face summary dismissal proceedings. He went into hiding and is now a subject of a massive manhunt,” said Valmoria.
Valmoria ordered Balligud disarmed of his service firearm.
He warned policemen who do similar stunts that they would suffer the same fate.
“I will not hesitate to dismiss from the service policemen who violate our standing order against the indiscriminate firing of firearms,” he said.
Stray bullets
The NCRPO also recorded two cases of stray bullet incidents with one injured victim during the Christmas revelry in Metro Manila.
Valmoria ordered a deeper probe of the incidents, identify the suspects and put the guilty parties behind bars.
According to Valmoria, the stray bullet incidents happened in Valenzuela City and Quezon City.
The stray bullet victim was identified as Mark Sixto de Guzman, 22.
A bullet hit De Guzman in the stomach while he was inside his house at No. 1703 Lawin St., Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City.
Valmoria said De Guzman was rushed to the Far Eastern University hospital where he is now confined.
In Valenzuela City, businessman Edgar Co was watching television with his son in the living room of their house at No. 16 Dalisay St., Serrano Subdivision in Barangay Marulas when they heard a loud thud on the roof.
Co stood up to investigate and saw a bullet hole in the ceiling of their house. He also retrieved a slug from an unknown caliber firearm on the floor beside the concrete wall.
The Valenzuela police are investigating the incident.
Sketchy reports showed that a stray bullet hit another person in Southern Tagalog.
In the Ilocos region, five incidents of illegal discharge of firearms were reported.
A security guard was accosted for alleged indiscriminate firing in Central Luzon.
In Eastern Visayas, a stray bullet was found but fortunately no one was hit, while in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao a person was injured when his own firearm went off.
The PNP leadership held the symbolic sealing of service firearms of 150,000 policemen as a measure to prevent law enforcers from indiscriminately firing their guns during the holidays.
Mayor said the tapes, signed by the commanding officer, will be removed a day after New Year.
However, policemen on duty may remove the tapes on the muzzles in special circumstances related to their duty as policemen. Policemen need to justify the removal of the seal.
The PNP leadership warned policemen will be sanctioned severely with criminal and administrative charges if they are found to have fired their guns during the revelry.
“Criminal charges may mean a case of alarm and scandal, while administrative charges may mean a case of grave misconduct, which may result in dismissal from the service,” he said.
The PNP is coordinating with the AFP, other law enforcement agencies and local government units in conducting intensified intelligence efforts to identify possible violators. – With Non Alquitran