Cop faces murder raps for high noon bar fight

MANILA, Philippines - A Pasay City policeman accused of shooting a market helper twice in the head in a bar at noon Wednesday was charged with murder, an official said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Napoleon Cuaton, city police chief, said he elevated the case against Police Officer 1 Bernardino Meneses of the Mobile Patrol Unit after finding out that Cecilio Datun suffered two gunshot wounds in the left cheek and right temple. Police investigators initially intended to file a homicide case against Meneses because the shooting took place after an alleged misunderstanding between the two.

 “I’ll let the prosecutor decide on the case but – that’s two shots in the head. To me that is intentional,” Cuaton told The STAR over the phone.

Cuaton also said an administrative case for grave misconduct has already been filed against Meneses.

Conflicting accounts

Datun was drinking beer with Joven Nilo at the DNS Videoke and Bar along A. Luna and Libertad street when he was shot by Meneses, who was also drinking beer at another table. The bar is behind the Pasay Police Community Precinct 3, where Meneses allegedly surrendered.

In an interview with The STAR, Nilo said he was singing when Meneses approached them and asked “what Datun’s problem was.”

Knowing Meneses is a policeman, Nilo replied that there was none. But while Nilo was explaining, Datun allegedly stood up and held a bottle against Meneses, who shot him twice.

Nilo said no words were exchanged between the policeman and the victim. 

“I didn’t know they were already exchanging glances because they did not talk or even hurl expletives at each other. That’s why I was very surprised that Meneses confronted us,” he said in an interview.

At least two witnesses interviewed by The STAR also claimed that they did not notice any verbal altercation between the two before the shooting took place.

The STAR tried to get Meneses’ side but he declined.

A report from the Southern Police District, on the other hand, stated that it was a “heavily drunk” Datun who “verbally teased the suspect for unknown reason.” The SPD also said it was Datun who “went directly” to Meneses’ table.