Tanod suspended for firing gun

CEBU, Philippines - The Ombudsman has suspended a tanod of Barangay Kinasang-an, Cebu City after he was found guilty of simple misconduct for firing his gun.

The complainant in the case, a certain Maricel Raya, said that the tanod, Jose Homer Manimog, fired his gun right outside her house evening on May 22, 2012 when only her minor children and their cousin were left inside. She said the incident happened after she had a quarrel with the tanod’s wife.

Manimog, however, failed to answer the allegations despite order from the Ombudsman.

In her decision, graft investigator Vivien Santiago-Lumangtad said Manimog is liable administratively for what he did.

She said that as a peace officer, Manimog should have been mindful of his actions and that “a truly innocent man would have defended himself from any false accusations.”

“He should not be the first to break the peace that he is duty bound to maintain. By firing a gun in front of complainant’s house with some children inside, respondent exhibited unacceptable behavior as a public officer,” Lumangtad’s decision reads.

Lumangtad said it did not find Raya to have had any ill motive to sue Manimog. She also said it was unlikely for the children to concoct a story if only to support Raya’s complaint.

“We have no reason to doubt complainant’s statement. She had no ill motive to file an administrative case against respondent. The spat was between complainant and respondent’s wife,” the decision reads.  (FREEMAN)