Rookie cop in hot water, for firing gun ‘while drunk’

CEBU, Philippines - A rookie police officer is in hot water after allegedly firing his service firearm while under the influence of liquor during a benefit dance in Barangay San Jose, Cebu City at 2 a.m. yesterday.

An allegedly drunk Police Officer 1 John Rodwell Oporto of Talamban Police Station allegedly fired a gun causing panic among disco goers, Leslie Miñoza, the benefit dance organizer, complained to the police.

Miñoza further reported that Oporto, after the indiscriminately firing, fled on a motorcycle while the disco was eventually stopped because of the commotion.

Oporto, in an interview, affirmed that he indeed fired his service firearm but said it was actually a warning shot.

“Naa’y nagpatabang nako kay gipariglahan sila, mao to ni-aksyon na ma’g hamag, nag-warning shot ko,” he explained, denying that he was drunk then.

After allegedly firing the gun, the group who was allegedly responsible for the mugging incident, allegedly told him, “mahibaw-an ra ni nato, sir” and walked away.

The police officer further denied that the benefit dance stopped immediately after he fired his gun, saying it continued until 3 a.m.

Senior Inspector Bienvenido Miral, chief of Talamban Police Station, said he will ask Miñoza to execute an affidavit after receiving conflicting reports about the incident.

According to Miral, a group of young people went to his office yesterday morning to report that they were mugged during the incident.

He asked them if they know about a person who fired a firearm during the same time, but no one among the group appeared to know so.

The City’s Investigation and Detective Management Branch has come in to investigate Oporto to check if he is liable for an administrative charge.

Oporto was subjected to a paraffin test but he claimed to be unperturbed of the possible positive result as he has already admitted to have fired a gun during the incident.

The police officer is currently held in custody at the City Public Safety Company.

Meanwhile, another rookie policeman got seriously wounded after he figured in a vehicular accident along Barangay Poblacion 1, Carcar City early Saturday morning.

PO1 Dennis Gregory Noel, 25, who is under field training program and currently assigned at the Guadalupe Police Station in Cebu City, is now being treated at Carcar City Provincial Hospital where he was rushed after the incident.

Noel, a resident of Carcar City, was reportedly driving a motorcycle along the national road when he lost control of the vehicle.

He hit the gutter and fell on the ground together with the motorcycle.   (FREEMAN)