Off-duty cop arrested with gun

CEBU, Philippines - A soldier arrested a policeman assigned in Mandaue City after the latter was seen carrying a firearm while reportedly not in line of duty and not also wearing complete police uniform yesterday along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City while the solemn procession was ongoing.

PO3 Temistocles Ambus Raneli of the 701st Maritime in Mandaue City was arrested by 1st Lieutenant Roy Dalumpines of the Philippine Army outside a store near a university after a 9mm berretta was seen tucked in his waist.

SPO1 Rolando Amor of the Carbon Police told The FREEMAN that Dalumpines turned over Raneli to traffic enforcers Insp. Michael Angelo Beltran and Task Force Colon personnel PO1s Pedro Muring and Kenjie Amora.

The police then took Raneli to the Carbon Police Station where he was held for several minutes. Raneli, according to Amor, is former personnel of the Regional Mobile Group-7.

Amor said Raneli was wearing his blue police pants and prescribed police shoes when arrested. However, he was only wearing a plain white T-shirt which was supposed to be underneath their police uniform.

In enforcing the total gun ban for the 2010 polls, soldiers, police, and other law enforcement agencies are exempted but they are not allowed to carry firearms when not on duty and not in their prescribed uniforms.

Amor said no investigation was conducted against Raneli who was later released from the police station after Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador and the AFP head (whom Amor was not able to identify) agreed to settle the matter.

Amor said Comendador and the AFP head agreed to release Raneli after he also presented pertinent documents like the memorandum of receipt for the service firearm and his identification card; as well as the bag where his uniform was placed.

Supt. Pablo Labra II, deputy chief for administration, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said that the incident is a case of misunderstanding between Raneli and Dalumpines, that no firearm was recovered, and that nobody was detained or arrested.

According to Amor, Raneli was also able to defend himself saying that he was carrying the gun to protect himself from those who may have been planning to get back at him. He said he had arrested many fish vendors in barangay Pasil in line with his duty in the Maritime.

He further said that he has just come from duty in line with the fluvial parade and parked his car a few meters away from the store, after taking off his uniform, to buy something important there.

Amor said Raneli further alleged that he was about to go back to his post when he was intercepted by Dalumpines for the bulging thing on his waist which was later found out to be a gun.

Amor further said that Raneli and the pieces of evidence he showed were subjected for verification and were released later on. — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)