Cop grounded after "accidental" shooting

CEBU, Philippines - The policeman who claimed to have accidentally shot a man he was arresting for physical injury was placed under custody of the homicide section pending a formal complaint from the victim.

PO1 Hallid Garlo Omar, resident of Barangay Parian, Cebu City, was also relieved from his field duty at the Waterfront Police Station effective last Sunday after he figured in what he claimed to be an accidental shooting Saturday evening.

Omar shot Romeo Cejas in the left leg allegedly during a scuffle when the latter tried to resist arrest. Omar said he responded to a trouble alarm along Bonifacio Street where he also resides. He said Cejas and a certain Kennel Rivera were having an argument in the middle of their drinking session.

Omar said he tried to pacify and identified himself as police officer but Cejas allegedly hit Rivera in the nose prompting him to arrest the former. However, Cejas, who was bigger and taller than Omar, resisted and tried to grab his service firearm.

They allegedly grappled for the gun until it accidentally went off hitting Cejas in the left leg.

Cejas denied resisting arrest. He told The FREEMAN that the policeman was also having a drinking session together with his friends in the area when the commotion between him and Rivera happened. Cejas accused the policeman of haughtily showing his firearm to the people in the place.

Cejas said he requested Omar not to handcuff him as he is willing to come with him voluntarily. However, the policeman grabbed his hands from behind and shot his leg. Cejas said he has yet to decide whether to press charges against Omar.

But Omar has already filed complaints for resisting arrest and direct assault against Cejas. Investigation and Detective Management Branch chief Bonifacio Garciano said they will look into the reports that Omar was drunk when the incident happened.

“Ang mga testigos nag ingon na hubog kuno ang pulis. Nagpaabot pa mi sa complainant if mo file ba jud siya og kaso (the witnesses said the policeman was drunk. We are still waiting for complainant to press charges),” Garciano said.  (FREEMAN)