Evidence “quickly hidden”: Cop allegedly fired gun while “drunk”

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman was arrested for alarm and scandal after he allegedly fired a gun while he was drunk at a bar along Mango Avenue, Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City early morning yesterday.

Chief Inspector Wildemar Tiu, Fuente Police Station chief, personally arrested PO3 Neri Cahimat along with his six companions who were all found positive of being under the influence of liquor after a test.

Cahimat, who is assigned at the Mabolo Police Station, was off duty at that time.

Police received the alarm at 8:45 a.m. from Jesusito Barbosa, head security guard of Mango Square, about an indiscriminate firing incident which prompted a police team to respond.

Cahimat and his group were still drinking when police arrived. They approached the group and Cahimat voluntarily surrendered his personal .45 cal. pistol.

Nobody, however, admitted to firing the gun.

“Wala mi nahimo kung dili amo silang gidala tanan sa police station for an elimination process,” Tiu said. He also said that it was another security guard who pointed to Cahimat as the one who fired the gun at a sand and gravel pile nearby.

The pile was placed there for ongoing construction in the area.

Tiu suspected that the gun they recovered from Cahimat was not the firearm used in the crime due to its dirty barrel.

“Ang barrel hugaw kaayo dunay lawa-lawa kay kung mao pa to ang gigamit malimpyo mana so dili gyud to mao,” Tiu said.

The responding policemen also failed to recover any slug or empty shell at the scene.

Tiu believed that Cahimat and his companions were able to keep the firearm used and the empty shell or slug.

“Nagdala man gud ni siya og hand-held radio unya naka-monitor sa tawag nga padung nami mao siguro nataguan ang armas,” Tiu said. He added that to clear their suspicion, he will subject Cahimat to a paraffin test at the PNP Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug.

Tiu said a policeman is allowed to drink and also to bring his firearm, but what makes it a problem is the way they behave when they are drunk.

Cahimat is now detained at the Fuente Police Station pending the filing of administrative and criminal charges against him.

“Nahuwasan nato tua na’s prisohan dili na ka-duty ugma,” Tiu said.

Another policeman, PO3 Allan Bautista who is assigned at the Human Rights Affairs Office of the Police Regional Office-7 is now facing administrative and criminal charges after he was also accused of illegal discharge of firearm while under the influence of liquor in Candaway Norte, Siquijor.

Complainant Carlito Oriendo and some witnesses executed affidavits to pursue the filing of criminal charges for grave threat, alarm and scandal, violation of domicile, and illegal discharge of firearm against Bautista.

An administrative charge for grave misconduct was also filed by the Regional Investigation Detective and Management Division against him.

Bautista was said to have caused alarm when he fired twice his 9mm cal. service firearm twice. Two empty shells were recovered at the scene.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)