Cop faces probe for shooting minor illegal fisher in Tuburan

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman who accidentally shot a minor illegal fisher in Tuburan Thursday evening is facing an investigation to determine his liability.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador said that Tuburan Police chief Wilfer Grapa has already started the investigation against Police Officer 2 Alison Esmero.

“If found liable he will be charged accordingly, however, we’ll also consider that was a legitimate operation,” Comendador said in a text message sent to The FREEMAN.

A 17-year-old illegal fisher was injured after Esmero accidentally shot him in the right leg. The police officer fired a shot to disable the pump boats boarded by the victim and nine other illegal fishers.

The victim together with Solo Paglinawan, 31, Leo Paglinawan, 30, Manolo Ramos, 30, of Barangay Poblacion, Tabuelan; Vicente Noval, 38, RJ Godez, 27, Diosdado Torrejos, 49, and Trispono Palacio, 47 of Barangay Anapog, San Remigio and one other minor tried to escape on board the two pump boats.

Esmero and the rest of the policemen from Tuburan pursued the fleeing illegal fishers and fire shots supposedly to disable the outrigger boats.

 The illegal fishers were arrested after about 20 minutes of chase and after one of them was already hit.

“Wala na man silay mahimo kay malunod naman gyud to ilang sakayan maong nihunong na lang sila,” Esmero said.

Esmero said he is willing to face the investigation but insisted that it was a legitimate operation.

The police were able to confiscate one unit pump boat, one unit compressor, one compressor tank, 40-meter hose, five spear guns, three pieces of paddles and 12 kilos of assorted fish worth P1,500.

The suspects are now detained at the Tabuelan police stockade while charges for violation of the Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 are being readied against them. — (FREEMAN)