Cop who shot civilian also faces admin raps

CEBU, Philippines - A case of grave misconduct will be filed against PO2 Celso Colita, the policeman who shot a civilian last Saturday night.

The administrative charge is on top of the criminal case for frustrated murder, which will be filed against him today.

Investigation and Detective Management Branch chief Aileen Recla said Colita may face dismissal from service should he be found guilty in the administrative case.

Colita who was assigned at Guadalupe Police Station is currently detained at the Punta Princesa Police Station.

He shot Ric Jun Macani, 28, three times using a homemade revolver in Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Labangon.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds to his right hand and neck. He managed to run and took a cab to the Miller Hospital but was transferred later to the Cebu City Medical Center.

Police recovered a homemade snub-nosed .38 cal. revolver from the suspect with two live rounds and three empty shells inside the cylinder.

A Glock 9mm pistol, his service firearm, was also found inside Colita’s sling bag. It was loaded with eight live rounds of ammunition.

Recla said it is already alarming that a policeman is a party to criminal cases. Colita is the 16th policeman from Cebu City who is facing an administrative charge from January to October this year.

Out of the 16 policemen, Colita and three other policemen are facing criminal charges, including PO3 Neri Cahimat of the Fuente Police Station for case of alarm and scandal after firing his gun outside a bar along General Maxilom Avenue last July, PO2 Ronilo Manuel of the Cebu City Public Safety Battalion for robbery last April, and PO2 Joselito Laspiñas of the Waterfront Police Station for extortion last August.

The other 12 policemen were charged with administrative cases for being absent without leave.

Regional Office-7 Director Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas was certainly not happy with the recent incident.

“I am really saddened. Medyo personal ang circumstances. They should avoid that. Ang laki na ng sakripisyo ng kanilang kasamahan,” he said.

Cebu City Police Office Director, S/Supt. Noli Romana, reminded all station commanders to look into their respective personnel especially on the aspect of behavior and attitude.

“When a wrong act of a policeman is addressed with another wrong act, kabit-kabit na ang mali,” he said, adding, that every police station should undergo values formation.

He cited that there are three aspects in life that policemen are struggling with that need to be given with full attention and education – parenting, finances and marriage.

“Ang mga pulis ay ordinaryong mamamayan rin pag-off duty. May mga trainings and seminars tayo to uplift their knowledge about responsible parenthood, how to deal with married life and how to deal with their finances,” he said.

Romana said another batch of police personnel will soon participate in the Character Aptitude Development Program that aims to refresh cops on the ethics of police service.

Aside from values formation, the program will also focus on physical fitness and law enforcements.  (FREEMAN)