Cop faces criminal complaints

CEBU, Philippines - A police officer is facing criminal complaints before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office following his arrest Saturday because of his alleged involvement in a shooting incident in Barangay Labangon.

The homicide section of the Cebu City Police Office yesterday filed complaints for frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearm against Police Officer 2 Celso Coleta.

Coleta, assigned at the Guadalupe Police Station, was arrested by fellow police officers in Sitio Santo Niño, Labangon after he was tagged as suspect in the shooting of Ricjun Macani.

Coleta tailed Macani on his way to buy chicken and shot the latter several times without any provocation. The victim sustained gunshot wounds to the neck, hand, and right portion of the body.

Macani positively identified Coleta as the one who shot him. The responding members of the barangay tanod immediately called for police assistance resulting in the arrest of Coleta.

Seized from the suspect was an unlicensed caliber .38 revolver. In an earlier interview, Coleta claimed he tried to confront the victim for "touching' his sister. The victim reportedly got mad, prompting him to defend himself.

Coleta signed a waiver of detention to avail of a preliminary investigation. The prosecutor's office has given him five days to submit his counter affidavit.—  (FREEMAN)