Rookie cop charged with homicide

CEBU, Philippines - The rookie policeman who accidentally killed a fellow police officer while playing with his service firearm was charged with homicide before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.

Police Officer I Ronie Barangian was indicted for killing PO1 Ronnie Barrita last Tuesday evening. Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Raul Cristoria has recommended P30,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Cebu City Police Office homicide section originally filed a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide against Barangian but the prosecutor’s office upgraded the complaint to homicide.

Barangian admitted having killed Barrita but said it was an accident. According to him, he did not mean to hurt Barrita saying the latter has been a good friend to him.

Rutchel Zapanta, 21, who witnessed the incident, said that she went to see her friend PO1 Mari June Bohol at Pier 3 where he and Barrita were assigned.

Zapanta said she went with Bohol and Barrita to see Barangian at Sanciangko Street. When they arrived at the area she saw Barangian and PO1 Adam L. Perpetua already in a drinking session.

According to Zapanta, Bohol ordered two bottles of Red Horse beer and some junk foods, while they waited for the rain to stop.

While she sat on the plastic bench beside Bohol, she saw Perpetua slept on the other plastic bench, while the victim and the respondent were standing on the side joking with each other with their firearms.

Zapanta said moments later a burst of gunfire rang out and she saw Barangian holding a handgun in front of the victim who already fell down.

The victim reportedly asked the suspect in vernacular, “Gikablit man nimu.”

The victim was immediately rushed to the nearby Cebu City Medical Center but later expired.

Bohol said he saw Barangian pointed his firearm in the neck of Barrita who prodded the suspect to pull the trigger. “Sige kablita sano,” was Barrita’s alleged words to Barangian before the gun went off, killing Barrita.

The incident prompted Police Regional Office-7 chief Lani-o Nerez to recommend Barangian’s dismissal from service.

Nerez warned all field training policemen to practice what they were taught in the recent gun safety seminar. One of these was not to play with the gun even if the firearm was not loaded.

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 FREEMAN