Raps filed vs policeman over bystander’s death

Charges of homicide through reckless imprudence were filed against a Manila policeman after ballistic tests showed his gun matched the slug recovered in the area where a woman was hit by a stray bullet.

Witnesses identified Police Officer 3 Angelo Buzon, detailed at the Sta. Cruz police station, as the officer who accidentally shot Marie Grace Raymundo, 28, of Valenzuela City, while she was waiting for a ride along Loyola and P. Paredes streets last Thursday night.

Witnesses said the policeman was firing at the direction of two men riding tandem on a motorcycle when the victim was hit.

Buzon, during investigation, insisted he could not have shot Raymundo. However, he admitted firing a warning shot in the air while running after a group of robbers in another incident in Sta. Cruz on the night the victim was shot.

As standard police procedure, Buzon’s service firearm was subjected to a ballistic test. Probers had recovered four spent shells and two deformed slugs from a 9mm at the scene of the crime.

Results of the test showed the slugs were fired from Buzon’s service firearm, according to Homicide Section head Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr.

However, Buzon requested for another test to be conducted at Camp Crame’s laboratory facilities, which the Manila Police District (MPD) granted.

Buzon is currently restricted to headquarters. A probe is also being undertaken to determine the culpability of Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Danilo Estapon since his man was not at his proper jurisdiction at the time of the crime, which occurred in the Sampaloc district.

As this developed, MPD officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa ordered all MPD policemen to undergo firearms proficiency tests to upgrade their shooting skills.

He said a series of activities on firearms proficiency for all police operatives would forestall any untoward incident, like accidental firing, while responding to their duties.