Cop in shooting rampage had ‘psychotic breakdown’

The police officer who went on a shooting rampage last month in Kalibo, Aklan was suffering from an "acute psychotic breakdown" that caused him to snap, initial findings of the task force investigating the incident showed yesterday.

"Task Force Kalibo" chief Director Arturo Lomibao said police psychiatrists have diagnosed Police Officer 1 Jonathan Moreño as having suffered acute psychotic breakdown based on interviews with witnesses and his behavioral patterns before he opened fire with an M-16 rifle, killing seven people, including his two superiors during the "Ati-athihan" festival last Jan. 16.

"Despite his psychotic breakdown, his action was not wanton, hence it was not (a case of) amok. It was deliberate," Lomibao said in citing the report made by the psychiatrists from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Health Service.

"He was still able to selectively and discriminately identify targets whom he wanted to neutralize," Lomibao said.

Facts gathered by the fact-finding committee indicate that Moreño had already exhibited fears that he was being constantly watched.

The committee said Moreño also showed signs of distrust, insecurity and fear toward his colleagues.

The PNP, however, branded reports that Moreño had a fight with a soldier and argued with his father before the incident as rumors.

Moreño killed two of his superiors and three other policemen before he was shot dead by responding colleagues during the "Ati-Atihan" festival last month. A 10-year-old girl caught in the crossfire was also killed, and a civilian doctor hit by a stray bullet died days later in hospital.

The PNP committee was formed to focus on the reasons why Moreño went berserk and fatally shot three of his colleagues and superiors Aklan police director Senior Superintendent Odelardo Magayanes and Chief Inspector Manuel Ilejay Jr., Kalibo police chief.

The committee’s findings on Moreño’s state of mind also recommended that the PNP consider incorporating stress management programs into all its mandatory training courses, Lomibao said.

In his report to PNP chief Director General Edgar Aglipay, Lomibao also recommended that neuropsychiatric examinations be made mandatory along with annual physical examinations of policemen.

"The annual physical exam, which will include the neuropsychiatric exams, aims to maintain the mental and emotional well-being of personnel, particularly those who perform police duties under very stressful situations," Lomibao said.

A total of 18,717 uniformed and non-uniformed personnel have undergone the mandatory drug testing.

About 4,749 personnel assigned at the PNP national headquarters at Camp Crame will undergo drug testing. Some 6,300 cops had drug tests in PNP regional offices across the country.

"(Incorporating the neuropsychiatric exams) is part of the measures that we will undertake to prevent anything similar to the Kalibo incident as well as to ensure the physical and mental capability of all PNP personnel under all conditions," Lomibao said.

The PNP has requested about P35 million as initial funding from the Department of Budget and Management for the yearly conduct of drug tests and neuropsychiatric exams for the entire police force.

An estimated P56 million is needed to fund testing for the entire police force nationwide.

Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes, along with lawmakers, previously said neuropsychiatric and drug testing for policemen should be conducted regularly so as to avoid a repeat of the Kalibo incident.

Reyes, who is also Napolcom chairman, noted a policeman’s job is "very stressful, thus the need for a regular evaluation of the state of health of policemen not only physically but also emotionally and mentally."