No mercy for trigger-happy revelers - Robredo

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo vowed yesterday he will have police officers and soldiers who defied the government’s campaign against the indiscriminate firing of guns during the holidays dismissed from government service.

Robredo, who is concurrent chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), said the commission will immediately act on the cases of the police officers found to have fired their guns during the holiday revelry.

“I am not going to tolerate those who indiscriminately fired their guns before, after and during the Holidays, particularly police officers who defied our ban,” Robredo said. “Once investigation results indicate we have prima facie cases against them, they will be dismissed from the service.”

Robredo said he will recommend to the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines the immediate dismissal of military personnel involved in indiscriminate firing.

As for civilians, he said they will be stripped of the privilege to own and possess firearms.

From Dec. 1, 2011 to Jan. 1, 2012, at least 10 persons have been arrested for indiscriminate firing, among them two members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), one Army soldier, a security guard, and six civilians.

Police Officers 2 Fulgencio Sideco of Manila and Efren Dimaiwat of the PNP Training Service as well as Army Cpl. Reynolds Reyes have been charged. Others who face charges are security guard Noel Briones from Region 7; Edgar Sedino from Region 10; Anselmo Masangcay from Anilao, Batangas; and Benedicto Salamatin from Laguna.

Robredo did not name three more persons who were arrested pending the filing of charges against them.

Salamatin and Masangcay reportedly fired their guns indiscriminately during the New Year’s Eve celebration while the rest fired their guns on separate occasions from Dec. 21 to 31, 2011.  

On reports that there were 18 people hit by stray bullets, Robredo directed PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome to order his field investigators to gather evidence such as bullet slugs  from the victims and subject them to ballistics tests to determine the owners of the firearms involved.