SAN REMIGIO POLICE IN HOT WATER: Cop's pistol goes off, hits detainee

CEBU, Philippines - A detainee was injured after the service firearm of a “drunk” policeman in San Remigio police station accidentally went off placing the town’s police chief in hot water.

Cebu Provincial Police Office chief Erson Digal immediately ordered an investigation into the incident including San Remigio police chief Rully Lauron.

Jaime Sasing, who is facing rape charges, was talking to his visitors outside of the detention cell when he was accidentally hit by the bullet of the 9 millimeter pistol of Police Officer 2 Marcelo Tabolong.

Tabolong’s service firearm went off while trying to transfer it to the other side of his waist hitting Sasing on the right leg. Digal questioned why a detainee was allowed to get out of the detention cell to entertain visitors.

According to Digal, had it not because of the accident he would not have known the anomalous practice of allowing a prisoner to get out of the detention cell.

Digal immediately ordered Sr. Insp. Ruben Cuizon, chief of Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Brach to look into the incident and to include the chief of police.

Digal said the chief of police should be held accountable for command responsibility. Lauron however said he already placed Tabolong under camp restriction.

Lauron admitted in an interview over dySS that Tabolong was under the influence of liquor when his service firearm went off. According to Lauron, Tabolong has a reputation of being hardheaded. In fact, he was transferred several times because of this reputation.

Prior to his assignment in San Remigio, Tabolong was assigned at the Security Service Group (SSG) at the CPPO headquarters, a unit where policemen facing investigations are kept. — Niña G. Sumacot and Gabriel C. Bonjoc, Correspondent/FPL   (FREEMAN NEWS)