Cop cleared of illegal possession of firearm

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has cleared a police officer from criminal complaint for illegal possession of firearm but indicted four of his civilian companions.

Assistant city prosecutor Simaco Labata dismissed the complaint and ordered the release of Police Officer 2 Romeo Bolaño, assigned at the San Fernando Police Station, after the latter was able to present documents that his possession of firearm was legal.

His companions, Dexci Gomonet, 28, a native of But-ay, Gimenez City, Misamis Occidental; Ranel Commandante Dalosa, 33, of Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City; Bensur Gamutan, 45, of Gimenez City; and Joseph Lagura, 40, of Dicoloc, Misamis Occidental, however, were indicted for violation of Republic Act 10591 otherwise known as Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

The four accused waived their right to present counter-affidavit during the inquest proceeding on Friday. The four opted to answer the charges in court.

The accused were also released after each posted P120,000 bail for their temporary liberty.

Bolaño and his four civilian companions were arrested by the joint operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 and Special Wea-pons and Tactics at Pier 1 in Cebu City on January 28, 2015 at 8:30 p.m. after the security officer of Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Dante Ladano, reported the presence of armed persons on board their passenger vessel MV Filipinas Dapitan from Dumaguete City.

Ladano reported that one of the armed persons identified himself as police officer but refused to present his identification card.

CIDG-7 operatives led by its deputy chief, Superintendent Fermin Armendarez III, responded to the call. Armendarez said they arrested Bolaño and his companions after they failed to present documents of their firearms.

The police recovered two .22 caliber rifles, another 9mm pistols, a .40 caliber pistol, 8mm revolver and several rounds of ammunition from Bolaño and his companions.

Bolaño claimed his firearm is legal but failed to bring the documents with him. He, however, presented the documents at the prosecutor’s office, prompting the investigating prosecutor to dismiss the complaint against him.

Not off the hook

But, Bolaño is not off the hook yet after Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas ordered a possible administrative investigation.

Bañas, however, said that he is still waiting for the recommendation of CIDG-7.

 “Eh maraming katarantadohan yan eh, sigi tuloy, sabi ko file ng case,” Bañas said.

The PRO-7 director also ordered an investigation against Bolaño’s superior officer, San Fernando Police Station chief Sarah Jean Recla, for command responsibility.

Bañas said it is ironic that while 44 brave commandos of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force offered their lives for their country in Mindanao, a policeman is arrested for committing a crime somewhere else.  (FREEMAN)