QC cop, 1 charged for death of fellow policeman
QUEZON City Police District (QCPD) Director P/Brigadier Gen. Nicolas Torre III said that a policeman and a civilian were charged with the death of a fellow police officer who succumbed to gunshot wounds after a “scuffle” during a drinking session on September 25, 2022.
P/Lt. Col. Vicente Bumalay Jr. said the suspects charged were a policeman assigned at Talipapa Police Station (PS 3) and one civilian from Cainta, Rizal.
Initial investigation revealed that at about 9:00 a.m. of Sept. 25, the suspect police officer hosted a drinking spree in his residence to “celebrate his birthday” and invited the victim together with four others.
At around 5:00 p.m., the victim suddenly broke a bottle of beer resulting in the suspect’s injury. The latter poured a glass of water on the victim, who immediately drew his handgun.
A gun scuffle ensued, which fired the gun several times, hitting them both. At that juncture, one of the guests helped the suspect take the weapon from the victim, which was later taken by the suspect’s wife and kept inside their house.
The suspect was rushed by his wife and one guest to Commonwealth Hospital and Medical Center (CHMC), while the victim was also brought by responding policemen of Pasong Putik Police Station (PS 16) to CHMC but was declared “dead on arrival” by the attending physician.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered seven fired cartridge cases, three deformed bullets, one holster, one sling bag, and assorted keys.
The suspect is still confined in the said hospital, while the civilian guest was brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) and to be charged with homicide before the city prosecutor’s office.
Torre, on behalf of QCPD, extended condolences to the victim’s bereaved family.
“This is an unfortunate incident. Lagi kong pinapaalala sa aking mga kasamahan sa serbisyo na huwag uminom ng alak dahil maaaring mangyari talaga ang ganitong insidente lalong-lalo na kung lasing na. Lagi nating iisipin ang ating pamilya na naghihintay sa ating pag-uwi,” he added.
Meanwhile, P/Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) regional director, once again reiterated to the police officers of NCRPO not to engage in drinking as oftentimes this causes trouble, accident and even crime. “Bagama’t hangad natin ang maging masaya, gawin na lamang ito sa ibang pamamaraan. Ang alak kasi, ‘pag nalasing ka na, hindi mo na alam ang ginagawa mo.”
