Probe for cops who 'shot themselves'

The Cebu City Police director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador has ordered an investigation into the alleged accidental firing that hurt two rookie policemen yesterday dawn in sitio Purok 3 Lower, barangay Camputhaw.

Homicide investigators identified the two policemen as PO1 Jemboy Kabristante, 26, and PO1 Anthony Peter Tano, 27, both are batchmates.

Kabristante is assigned to the Mambaling police station and resides in the said place while Tano is assigned to the police station one of the Mandaue City Police Office in barangay Centro and lives in barangay Sambag Uno, Cebu City.

SPO3 Dennis Moga, of the Homicide Section told The Freeman that the two alleged that they were walking at the said place when they saw a suspicious person prompting them to draw their firearms.

But as they cocked their issued Norinco .45 cal. pistols, Kabrisante's gun went off hitting his left hand, the bullet ricocheted off the ground and hit his batchmate's genitals.

According to Moga the two claimed that they were about to visit a friend that time when they saw the suspicious person.

The two landed in Chung Hua Hospital but Tano was later transferred to the Perpetual Soccour Hospital.

The Homicide Section took custody of their guns for laboratory examination and both are set to undergo a paraffin test.

Police have yet to determine if they were drunk at that time, but Comendador said that he will be recommending the two for investigation by the Internal Affairs Service and possible filing of criminal charges against the two.

Comendador said he will also be recommending an administrative motu propio investigation against the two for serious neglect of duties before the IAS.

If found liable, the two face summary dismissal proceedings and possible dismissal from the police service. - Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP