Cop found dead inside police camp

CEBU, Philippines - A police officer assigned at the 4th Regional Public Safety Maneuver Company-7 in Barangay Catagbacan Norte, Loon town in Bohol died after he suffered a gunshot wound in his head past 2 a.m yesterday.

Police Officer 1 Larry Belches, 32, of Babatngon, Leyte, was brought to the Governor Celistino Gallares Memorial Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival past 4 a.m. yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Clifford Gairanod, Battalion Commander, Regional Public Safety Battalion 7, told The FREEMAN that he has ordered for a thorough investigation on the circumstance of Belches’ death, if it was a case of suicide or accidental firing.

Based on the investigation conducted by Loon Police Station, PO1 Andie Mabanta and PO1 Junatin Ater, the duty guards, heard a burst of gunshot inside the camp.

Mabanta verified where the sound came from and searched every room inside the camp but saw nothing.

When he checked the comfort room, Mabanta reportedly saw PO1 Belches sitting on the toilet bowl covered with blood, so he immediately asked for assistance from other police officers.

Gairanod said that some of his men called Loon Police Station and asked them to call for an ambulance to take the wounded police officer to the nearest hospital.

But when Belches was brought to the Governor Celistino Gallares Memorial Hospital, the attending physician declared him dead on arrival at 4:45 a.m.

The investigators recovered the service firearm of the police officer and an empty shell in the comfort room.

His colleagues reportedly noticed that the police officer has been silent for the past few weeks and wanted to be alone. (FREEMAN)