Police monitor dismissed cops with unlicensed guns

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from highlighting depression’s seriousness as an illness, the tragedy that befell the four-member family of a former policeman in Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City on Sunday has brought to light one more thing — some dismissed men in uniform are still harboring unlicensed firearms.

Chief Superintendent Espino, director at Police Regional Office-7, said authorities are now monitoring these dismissed policemen.

“(Dismissed na may armas.) Isa yan sa mga kampanya ng PNP, ang Oplan Paglalansad, Oplan Katok, but sa PNP we have a directive na all dismissed policemen, before they are dismissed and if they are charged, are required to surrender their firearms,” Espino told reporters yesterday.

He said the police are currently hunting down those violating the law on illegal possession of firearms.

Espino made the remark a day after former Police Officer 2 Joel Lopez, 36, saddled by financial problems, reportedly shot dead all three other members of his family, including wife Jelyn, 36; son Myir, 8; and stepdaughter Angel May Lapina, 12.

Lopez was also believed to have shot himself dead after.

According to the police, the firearm used was an unlicensed M16 rifle, and it is now being verified whether Lopez acquired the weapon from someone else.

Espino said that if investigations prove that the firearm was illegally acquired from another person, that person may be held liable.

“He has no accountability sa Philippine National Police. We are still looking where he got his M16 rifle. If it will be traced, then the owner of that firearm will be answerable why his firearm is with Lopez,” Espino said.

Chief Inspector Jose Liddawa, chief of Carcar City police, said the M16 has been submitted to the regional crime laboratory to determine its original serial number and owner.

Lopez was previously assigned for Lapu-Lapu City Drug Enforcement Unit but because of his inability to attend a case hearing for illegal drugs, an administrative case for serious neglect of duty was filed against him.

This eventually led to his dismissal from the service in September 2013.

“Napag-alaman natin na si Joel Lopez ay dismissed policeman,” said Espino. “He applied for reinstatement, na-deny yun. We could summarize that the offense is grave for him to be reinstated. Well, the evidence that he will show for reconsideration didn’t warrant for the turning over sa decision nang summary hearing.”

Lopez’s wife reportedly borrowed P30,000 in cash from the pawnshop where she was working to be used to process for Lopez’s reinstatement, but PRO-7 spokesperson Senior Inspector Reslyn Abella said the money may not have been used for that sole purpose.

“When you file for appeal para ma-reinstate kay you have to pay the services, notarial, not necessarily that you have to pay to be reinstated. Possible nga nakagasto sila kay naa man na incidental expenses, mogasto man gyud ka ana, but wala gyud na siya sa process nga mobayad ka og money,” Abella said.

Espino said policemen dismissed for neglect of duty like Lopez are being monitored by National Police Commission and PNP to ensure that they still adhere to the moral and ethical work of a policeman.

“Yun po ang isa sa mga tinututukan ng Napolcom at PNP, that those PNP personnel charged for neglect is to really review their cases. At ayaw na namin yung nangyayari na nakakabalik sila sa serbisyo because of technicality or case was not heard immediately,” he said.

However, Espino stayed mum on speculations that Joel received threats and was the reason why he was unable to attend hearing. (FREEMAN)