Civilian wounded Cop investigated for firing gun inside cockfight arena

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A police of  this city may face criminal charges for attempted and frustrated homicide following a shooting incident that happened inside a cockpit at Bantayan Park, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Saturday evening.

Senior Supt. Larry Decena, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), had ordered probe on the incident, which involved Police Officer 1 Jojemar Alvarado, of  Bago City.

Decena said the Investigation and Detective Management Branch had investigated Alvarado who allegedly aimed his .9-mm gun at Barangay Chairman Federico Gayagas over a misunderstanding on cockfighting bets, resulting in a commotion inside the cockpit.

Police records initially showed that Gayagas's companion then grabbed Alvarado's gun, which fired but hit instead Orlindo Lasco, 47, of  Barangay 16 in Bacolod.

The crowd mauled Alvarado, who sustained head and body injuries and is now confined at a hospital. Responding policemen did not find the gun of  Alvarado from the crime scene, but Gayagas turned it over to the police Monday morning.  (FREEMAN)