Cop faces charges over death of boy

A charge for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide has been filed yesterday before the court against a policeman whose 357 magnum revolver accidentally went off and killed a three-year-old boy in barangay Lorega-San Miguel last week.

Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon approved the filing of the case against PO3 Benjamin Herbias Jr. based on the affidavits of police investigators who tagged the policeman as the owner of the gun that killed Shane Kent Bel Lunzaga, who was sleeping on a bamboo cot on December 28.

Sellon, however, recommended to the court a P10,000 bail for Herbias.

Aside from the child, Herbias’ 34-year-old girlfriend Brenda Siares also sustained a bullet wound to her leg. Siares was first hit by the bullet before it hit the boy inside a two-storey house.

City police director Patrocinio Comendador criticized Herbias, who used to be assigned to the Cebu City Police Office Security and Service Group, saying the policeman should have exercised caution to avoid the accident.

It was learned that Herbias was already preparing to report for work and was about to put his revolver in a pouch tucked in his waistline when his hand was hit when his girlfriend opened the door from outside, accidentally pulling the trigger.

The slug that hit Siarez’s left leg went through the wooden floor and hit the boy, who was sleeping on a bamboo bed at the lower level of the house. — Rene U. Borromeo/LPM