QC cop faces dismissal for firing gun

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City policeman might be dismissed from the service for firing his gun indiscriminately six days after the police hierarchy muzzled its personnel's service firearms with masking tape.

Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said authorities have filed criminal cases against Police Officer 2 Romel Mitra, assigned at the Police station 6 in Batasan Hills.

Mitra, who was drunk at the time, reportedly fired a gun during a domestic squabble last December 28 in Novaliches.

"He was immediately arrested after our people received a call from a concerned citizen," Pagdilao said.

Though Mitra did not use his service firearm that time, Pagdilao said it was nonetheless confiscated by lawmen.

Aside from the alarm and scandal charges, Mitra is now facing illegal discharge of firearm raps.

Meanwhile, Pagdilao on Friday led the removal of masking tapes on the muzzle of police officers' service firearms at the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal.

Around 3,200 service firearms had been sealed in masking tape with the signature of Pagdilao in line with Philippine National Police's drive against its members from firing their guns during the Holidays.