Cop shot during training

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer was wounded after a bullet bounced off a target plate during markmanship training at a Philippine Air Force (PAF) camp in Batangas over the weekend.

A deformed slug hit Executive M/Sgt. Carlo Ibañez in the left arm during the incident that occurred at the PAF firing range in Nasugbu, police said.

The bullet, which came from the firearm of M/Sgt. Ernesto Ortega, reportedly bounced off a target plate and hit Ibañez.

Ibañez was rushed to the Apacible Memorial District Hospital for treatment.

He and Ortega were among a group of police officers from different police units nationwide who were participating in a training program that is being implemented since Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan assumed office in September.

Cascolan, who will retire tomorrow, earlier said he wanted to address two issues that have been hounding the PNP since the drug war started.

These issues, Cascolan said, are the lack of skills in marksmanship and investigation of a majority of police officers.

He said if police officers are skilled marksmen, killing of suspects who resist arrest during apprehensions and operations could be prevented.