Cop fires at drunk neighbor; 4 hurt

A Camp Crame-based policeman is now facing multiple charges after shooting a drunk neighbor and hitting three others, including a 14-year-old boy, Tuesday night in Pandacan, Manila.

Elements of the Pandacan police station managed to subdue a visibly enraged Police Officer 3 Wilson Gazzingan, 31, detailed at the Civil Security Group in Camp Crame, before he could inflict more injuries to his neighbors.

Pandacan police chief Superintendent Roberto de la Rosa also seized Gazzingan’s service firearm, a caliber 9 mm Beretta.

Neighbors rushed Filemon Murillo, 45, and his brother Eligio, 43, Liza Lu-Caguioa, 36, and Ramil Espino, 14, all residents of Laura sreet in Pandacan, to the Philippine General Hospital.

Except for the critically wounded Filemon, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the face, the other victims were sent home after receiving treatment for gunshot wounds in the leg.

Investigations conducted by Inspector Edgar Reyes showed the shooting incident happened at around 10:30 p.m. along Laura street.

Witnesses said Filemon, who was drunk at the time of the incident, stopped a passing barangay vehicle with Gazzingan behind the wheel.

Filemon allegedly threatened to stab the vehicle’s occupants, which included barangay officials and the Sangguniang Kabataan chairwoman.

Gazzingan, who was in civilian clothes, got irked and with a drawn gun confronted Filemon. Moments later, witnesses said they heard successive shots and saw a bloodied Filemon running away from the scene.

According to Eligio, he was about to retire for the night when his bloodied brother arrived at his house. Running after his brother was Gazzingan who was still holding a gun.

Eligio said Gazzingan who was several meters away then started to fire successively hitting him in the left leg. The two other injured neighbors were possibly hit by stray bullets, Eligio said.

Felimon’s wife Evangeline scored the manner by which the suspect tried to stop the ill behavior of her husband.

She said Filemon, who had a drink too many because of a family problem, could have been pacified by a warning shot or in extreme case be immobilized by a single shot in the leg.

"Bakit kailangan siyang barilin sa mukha ng kung ilang beses. Tapos hinabol pa at talagang gustong patayin," the tearful wife said.