Respect rank and uniform, NCRPO chief tells his men

To prevent a repeat of the shooting incident between two policemen in Bacoor, Cavite, Metro police chief Director Jefferson Soriano directed the 15,000-strong National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) to respect the uniform and rank in the police organization.

Soriano met with officers and men of the Regional Special Action Unit (RSAU) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City and told them to strictly observe discipline at all times.

Soriano’s meeting with the 1,700-strong RSAU, the fighting unit of the NCRPO, came on the heels of the Bacoor incident where PO2 Alfie Madrid shot dead Inspector William Pelicano at the height of a verbal tussle over a minor road accident.

Soriano and RSAU officials are puzzled why Madrid gunned down Pelicano who was his superior and was wearing full police uniform.

Saying there was a breakdown of discipline on Madrid’s action, he urged RSAU officials to correct this by conducting daily re-orientation among their members.

Like his fellow RSAU members, Madrid received proper combat and anti-terrorist training and he could have taken these into consideration when he shot Pelicano.

“Madrid could have thought that he was superior over Pelicano in handling firearms and that emboldened him,” said an RSAU official, noting that Pelicano was set to retire this year.

RSAU officials described Madrid as “outstanding,” saying that he placed seventh in his class in a recent schooling.

The NCRPO has started dismissal proceedings against Madrid who, together with his civilian companion, Hermogenes Gagan, is detained at the Bacoor police jail.

This developed as regional prosecutor Manny Velasco gave Madrid and Gagan seven days to submit their counter-evidence.

Velasco told The STAR that the two opted to avail themselves of their right to a preliminary investigation and waived Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code.

“It means that the accused are willing to remain in detention while the investigation of the case is ongoing,” Velasco said.

Superintendent Mario Reyes, Bacoor police chief, filed murder and frustrated murder charges before the regional prosecutor’s office against Madrid and Gagan last Monday for the killing of Pelicano and the wounding of his wife, Babylyn.

Under the law, the crime of murder is non-bailable, Reyes said.

Lawyers of Madrid and Gagan immediately filed a motion for the two to avail themselves of a preliminary investigation.

Velasco said his office would issue a resolution on the case on Monday.

Pelicano was in full police uniform when Madrid allegedly shot him pointblank with a caliber .45 automatic pistol allegedly passed on to him by Gagan. When Babylyn rushed to the aid of her husband, Madrid fired two more shots, grazing her on the arm, witnesses said.