Cop faces ax for shooting neighbor

MANILA, Philippines - A Pasig City police officer may be dismissed from service for allegedly pointing his service firearm and firing it into the air, hitting one of his neighbors in Barangay Rosario Sunday.

Police Officer 3 Amado Catimbang will be charged with three counts of grave threats in relation to Republic Act 7610 (the anti-child abuse law), indiscriminate firing and violating the election gun ban before the city prosecutor’s office, Pasig police chief Senior Superintendent Mario Rariza said.

Catimbang, assigned to the police community precinct in Barangay Rosario, was allegedly drunk when he encountered Nestor Soberano, 65, a member of the Barangay Security Force; his grandson, James Soberano and neighbor Gregorio Manlilic, 42, just before 8 p.m. Sunday.

Soberano said Catimbang pulled out his 9mm pistol, pointed it at them before firing it into he air, hitting Manlilic in the right foot.

The three ran into their houses to hide. A witness, Almavisa Soberano, 54, said Catimbang and his companion laughed loudly after the incident, then left the area.

Crime scene investigators recovered a 9mm slug at the crime scene.

The victims identified Catimbang at the police precinct when they reported the incident. Catimbang did not report for work yesterday.