2 cops probed for indiscriminate firing

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office 7 has ordered an investigation into an incident involving a policeman who allegedly fired his gun indiscriminately in uptown Cebu last Saturday morning.

Sr. Supt. Louie Oppus, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, has ordered the Fuentes Police Station and the Mobile Patrol Group to investigate the arrest of SPO1 Eduard Seno.

Seno allegedly fired his firearm after a heated argument with his live-in partner along Visitacion Street, Barangay Sambag 2.

Oppus said that actions like this should not be tolerated and Seno must face the consequences should investigation proves the same. One consequence is losing his job.

Seno is currently assigned with the Regional Headquarters Support Group at PRO7.

Seno’s live-in partner alleged that he saw the policeman with his alleged paramour using the motorcycle that she loaned to Seno. The argument reportedly started on October 7 until the morning the following day when Seno allegedly fired his gun.

Immediately after the incident, Seno’s neighbors reported the shooting to the Sambag 2 Barangay Hall. Barangay personnel, in turn, sought help of the Fuente Police.

Operatives from the Fuente Police Station and Mobile Patrol Group subsequently responded to the incident and arrested Seno near the policeman’s residence. Seno denied the reports. No firearm was recovered from him but he tested positive in the liquor test.

Seno is said to be the third policeman his partner had lived with. The two others had died years back and left the woman with five children. 

Seno was released from detention after two days after he paid a P500 fine for violating City Ordinance 512 or the anti-liquor ordinance.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Public Safety Company will also open an ocular investigation against PO3 Bernie Batarilan who allegedly fired his gun, which accidentally hit his left leg on Saturday.

PPSC chief Supt. Julian Entoma said he already directed Insp. Raymond Enriquez, leader of the Administration Platoon where Batarilan is a member, to conduct the investigation.

The result of the investigation will be submitted to the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch to determine if Batarilan had lapses on his job.

Batarilan is still recuperating at the Chong Hua hospital where he was taken after he allegedly shot his left leg for trying to defend himself from two unidentified men who was trying to harm him last Saturday morning in Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City.

Batarilan was driving his multicab towards the house of his mother-in-law in Compostela town when two unidentified men reportedly ran towards his vehicle and suddenly attacked him.

One of the suspects struck him with a piece of wood while the other tried to hit him with an empty bottle, which hit the windshield and the right side mirror of the vehicle.

At this juncture, Batarilan pulled out his service 9mm pistol, but because of fear, accidentally shot himself.

To prevent further damage, he sped away heading towards Eversley Sanitarium hospital and was later taken to the Chong Hua hospital. (FREEMAN)