Rookie cop shows off gun, kills pal

MANILA, Philippines - A rookie policeman reportedly accidentally shot his drinking buddy while showing off his service firearm in Malate, Manila before dawn yesterday.

Police Officer 1 Cyril de Gracia, 29, detailed at the Camp Dangwa Hospital in La Trinidad, Benguet, surrendered his service firearm, a .9mm caliber pistol, to authorities after the shooting.

The victim, 19-year-old David Paul Vea, was declared dead on arrival at the Ospital ng Maynila for a gunshot wound in the chest.

Investigation conducted by SPO2 Milbert Balinggan showed De Gracia and the victim, together with several other men, were drinking at a house along Anakbayan Street in Malate at past 2 a.m.

When everyone was already tipsy, De Gracia reportedly boasted about his service firearm to his drinking buddies. Then he reportedly removed the magazine and pointed the gun at people around him.

Balinggan said the gun suddenly went off and hit the victim.

At his detention cell at the homicide section of the Manila Police District (MPD), De Gracia – who is a registered nurse aside from being a policeman – told The STAR he was also shocked when his gun fired when he knew it was not loaded.

Senior Inspector Joey de Ocampo, who heads the MPD’s homicide section, said De Gracia faces homicide charges and could be removed from service for failing to handle his gun properly.