8 NV cops face raps over shooting

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Eight policemen manning a multibillion-peso mining project in a remote village here are facing administrative cases in connection with the shooting incident in the area, which resulted in the wounding of one of their colleagues.

Senior Superintendent Pedro Danguilan, police provincial director, said that appropriate administrative charges are being readied against the eight-man police team from the 2nd Regional Mobile Group based in Tuguegarao City, for the said shooting incident, which they themselves reportedly instigated in Kasibu town’s gold and copper-rich Didipio village on Aug. 16.

The policemen, Danguilan said, who were assigned in the area to maintain peace and security during the height of tension between pro and anti-mining groups there, were all now relieved following the incident.

Investigations, he said, show that the cops themselves were the ones behind the shooting after some misunderstandings while reportedly having a drinking spree inside their quarters, which also resulted in the wounding of PO1 Danilo Maquiraya, contrary to earlier reports that armed men have been harassing them.

“Based on the information we gathered, it seemed there was a misunderstanding among them while reportedly having some fun which resulted in the incident,” he said.

“Instead of the residents feeling safe with their (police) presence, they even caused fear and panic among the people in the area,” said Danguilan, whose office sought the relief of the policemen from the area.

The incident came while a House panel is investigating a number of policemen for allegedly detaining a four-man House team out to investigate alleged human rights abuses and environmental violations allegedly committed by Australian firm Oceana Gold Philippines, whom the government had contracted to undertake the $320-million Didipio Gold-Copper Project in the area.

This also came as residents of Didipio, around three hours from this capital, were still reeling from a recent spate of violence there, including the controversial killing of their chieftain, barangay chairman Paul Baguilat, who was shot dead by armed men amid brewing tensions between pro- and anti-mining villagers.