Cop, jail officer tagged in indiscriminate firing

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer from Quezon City and a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel are in hot water for their alleged involvement in indiscriminate firing in Marikina City on Thursday.

Cpl. Felipe Pauig Jr., who is assigned with the Quezon City Police District (QCPD)’s tactical motorized unit, and Jail Officer 1 Job Gatan of the BJMP Bicutan, were identified as the persons who were involved in the incident that happened in Barangay Tumana at around 10:50 p.m.

The two government personnel, together with security guard Jestony Pauig Jr., allegedly took turns in firing Gatan’s handgun along Kangkong street following a drinking binge. Probers said the first to fire a shot was Pauig followed by the security guard and Gatan the last.

There were no casualties during the incident. Investigators recovered a bullet casing from a 9mm handgun at the scene.

Investigation further revealed that after their drinking session, Pauig suddenly pulled out Dolfino’s service firearm and fired, which alarmed residents in the area. An empty shell from a 9mm pistol was recovered at the scene of the incident by the investigators.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre has ordered the conduct of an investigation to determine Pauig’s administrative liability.

“This act of our policeman is sign of arrogance which is we in the QCPD do not tolerate this kind of wrongdoings,” he said in a statement. Pauig has reported to his unit, QCPD spokesperson Maj. Wennie Ann Calle said in a text message.

The BJMP National Capital Region, for its part, has started its own probe of Gatan, who has reported to his superiors and surrendered his firearm.

The Marikina police is preparing charges against the suspects for alarm and scandal