Cop in bystander’s  death posts bail

The policeman who accidentally shot and killed a bystander while responding to a domestic squabble in barangay Carreta was freed yesterday afternoon after posting bail for the case filed against him.

Police Officer 1 Joseph Mumar Villamor was released shortly before 5:00 p.m. upon the order of Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Francisco Seville after he posted P8,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Villamor is facing a case for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide filed by his fellow police officers at the Homicide Section of Cebu City Police Office over the death of Allain Regner. Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Rogelio del Prado found probable cause to indict Villamor.

Witnesses pointed to Villamor as responsible for Regner’s death. Spouses Glenn and Teresa Caval said Villamor’s service firearm went off while trying to pacify them.

In their joint affidavit, the Caval couple said they were having a fight when Villamor responded to pacify them.

However, the policeman’s firearm suddenly went off when he struck Glenn’s waist with his firearm and accidentally hit Regner in the face.

Regner was rushed to Cebu City Medical Center where he died later. Villamor denied hitting Regner but witnesses said there was no other person carrying a gun when the incident happened.

National Police Commission regional director Bernardo Calibo said Villamor could apply for a free legal assistance program from them.

Calibo, however, said they will still determine whether the case was in line with his official duty. — Fred P. Languido/LPM