Army man held for firing gun

CEBU, Philippines - A member of the Army Training Group of the Central Command was placed under arrest for alarm and scandal after he allegedly fired shots at a man who allegedly took his wallet while he fell asleep at a sidewalk dawn yesterday.

However, he was eventually a few hours later after no complainant or witness testified to the alleged incident.

Investigation showed Sgt. Paulino Matisado Ursal, 48, of Bogo City was allegedly drunk when the incident happened 4am yesterday.

He was waiting for a jeepney at the corner of Pelaez and Colon Street when he decided to rest and eventually fell asleep. He was later awakened by a woman who informed him that a man had taken his wallet from his shorts.

Matisado said he still saw the man at a distance so he decided to run after him and fired his service firearm supposedly to stop him. However, the man reportedly quickly disappeared.

A police officer of the Mobile Patrol Group heard the gunshots and responded to the shooting, eventually intercepting Ursal who voluntarily surrendered and turned over his .45 service firearm, two magazines, and twelve rounds of ammunition.

Edwin Dilao, base control police of the MPG, said a security guard assigned at an establishment near the scene also reported the incident to the unit and alleged that he heard around six gun shots.

Matisado was placed under arrest for illegal possession of firearms after failing to show pertinent papers for the weapon’s legality, albeit reasoning that his license and assorted identification cards were inside the stolen wallet.

PO3 Romeo Abellana, investigator assigned at the Carbon police, said Matisado’s colleagues went to the police station in the morning and brought the documents to prove the legality of Matisado’s possession of the firearm. — Niña G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)