2 Caloocan cops face criminal raps for illegal discharge of firearms

Two Caloocan cops are in trouble following the filing of criminal and administrative charges against them yesterday for firing their government-issued firearms while under the influence of alcohol in separate incidents the other day in Caloocan and Valenzuela.

Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil identified the erring policemen as PO2 Tirso Roncales, assigned at Police Community Precinct 10, Caloocan Police Substation 3 in Phase 7, Bagong Silang and PO2 Eugene Amaro, assigned at Police Community Precinct 2, in Sta. Quiteria, both in Caloocan City.

In his report to Bataoil, SPO1 Wilson Reyes, officer-on-case, said criminal and administrative charges, including two counts of physical injuries, illegal discharge of firearm and grave threats, are now being readied against Roncales.

Superintendent Billy Beltran, Valenzuela City police chief, said criminal and administrative raps are also being prepared against Amaro, also a resident of Arty Subdivision in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, before the city prosecutor’s office.

Bataoil also belied insinuations of a general breakdown of discipline among the ranks of the Camanava police saying the incidents were isolated. He said he will apply the full force of the law against erring cops, including these last two, if evidence warrants it.

Investigation showed the first incident erupted at around 8 p.m. of June 17, along the pathwalk near the Barangay 176 outpost in Bagong Silang.

Reyes said in his report that Roncales, who was then under the influence of liquor, allegedly grabbed complainant Eva Delgado, 40, his neighbor, by the arms, forcing her to point to the alleged tormentors of his stepson identified only as "Kim."

As this happened, Eva’s son, Ryan, appeared. Kim allegedly punched Ryan while he was being choked and threatened by Roncales with his 9 mm pistol.

PO3 Antonio Apostol, a colleague and resident of the area, tried to pacify Roncales, but the latter would not be appeased and fired several rounds on the ground in anger. Probers later found five empty cartridges and two deformed slugs from a 9 mm pistol at the crime scene.

Barangay 176 purok leader Fernando Cardino, 58, said he has filed a complaint against Roncales for disturbing the peace in his area while the Delgados have filed a case of physical injuries and grave threats. Reyes said the complaints have been filed before the Caloocan City Prosecutor’s Office and the Caloocan Police Office of Pre-Charge Investigation.

In the other case, Carlo de la Cruz, 44, of Ilang-ilang street, Karuhatan, Valenzuela filed the complaint of illegal discharge of a firearm before the police.

At around 3:30 p.m. of June 20, 2006, the Caloocan City police Tactical Operations Center (TOC) received a call from a concerned citizen in Arty Subdivision where Amaro lived, reporting about a drunken police officer firing his gun indiscriminately in the middle of the street and scaring the wits out of his neighbors.

Beltran then sent his men from the investigation and motorcycle units to the area and arrested Amaro. The case is now with the Valenzuela Prosecutor’s Office, Beltran said in his report.