Cop who shot fellow cop: "I did not mean it"

CEBU, Philippines – Filled with grief, PO1 Ronie Barangian could not stop crying inside the Mabolo Police detention cell yesterday, as his friend, fellow police trainee PO1 Ronnie Barrita, died Tuesday night and now lies at the St. Peter Memorial Chapel.

Barangian admitted, in tears, that he shot Barrita. But he stressed he did not mean it as they have been good friends. The FREEMAN was advised by the police to stop interviewing Barangian, as he just kept on crying and would no longer talk.

PO1 Mari June Bohol, who was with Barrita and Barangian during the incident last Monday evening in Barangay Pahina Central, narrated in his affidavit that he and a female friend went to a boarding house where Barrita previously rented. Barrita invited them as he just received his salary.

They drank a few bottles of beer while waiting for the heavy rain to stop as they planned to go back to their duty in Pier 3.

“I sat on a plastic bench while Barrita and Barangian, who were playing and joking with their respective firearms, were standing near the stairway. Then, I saw Barangian pointed his firearm near the neck of Barrita, who said: ‘Sige kablita, sano.’ (Pull the trigger.),” Bohol said in his affidavit.

Bohol further narrated that the firearm of Barangian then went off and as Barrita fell, he said, ‘Ngano gikablit man nimo, sano? (Why did you pull the trigger?)”

Barrita’s father is also a policeman detailed at the Commel section of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7. He refused to comment on the incident because the investigation is still ongoing.

Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, PRO 7 director, will order for Barangian’s dismissal from the PNP. He said the incident only shows that both policemen did not instill in their minds the gun safety seminar they were given.

Barrita, who was on a field training program and was assigned with Task Force Colon under the Cebu City Police Office, died Tuesday night at the Cebu City Medical Center. He was no longer transferred to another hospital considering his critical condition, according to the family.

Nerez said Barangian committed a huge lapse since as FTP police, he and his batchmates were still recently subjected to a gun safety seminar.

“Very basic ‘na sa gun handling nga dili g’yud ka mag-duwa-duwa sa armas. Very basic ‘na nga dili nimo ‘na ition sa imong kauban ma-naa’y bala o wala,” Nerez said.

He said this incident serves as a lesson for other FTP policemen, who are still temporary members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and even those who are already organic members.

The PRO 7 director added that they are still looking for any assistance they can give to the family of the victim.

Nerez is still waiting for the result of the investigation being conducted by the CCPO Homicide Section and will use this as basis in dismissing Barangian from the service.

Sr. Insp. Vicente Velasquez, Homicide Section chief, said they have already upgraded Barangian’s case to reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and has filed it yesterday before the prosecutors’ office. (THE FREEMAN)