Cop accidentally shoots neighbor

A POLICEMAN assigned at Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) is in hot water after he accidentally shot and injured his neighbor around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City.
Police Station 8 commander Chief Inspector Danilo Francisco said that SPO3 Eduardo Hermoso, 48, of Purok Kainging, Barangay Tangub, Bacolod and assigned at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office headquarters is now in their custody.

Francisco said that Hermoso had earlier asked his neighbor Renato Garcia and his son, whose name is being withheld, to leave his videoke bar as he is already going to close.

He said that the Garcias went out from the bar, and in a few minutes Hermoso heard something drop on their roof. When he went out to check, the Garcias and their unidentified companions mauled him.

He added while he was being mauled, he drew his service firearm to fire a warning shot but he accidentally hit Renato in his left thigh.

Francisco added the policeman brought Renato to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, and later went to Police Station 8 to voluntarily surrender and endorse his service firearm, a 9-milimeter pistol.

He said that Hermoso, who sustained bruises in his lips and back, would file charges against the Garcias.

On the other hand, City Director Celestino Guara said that he ordered the Police Station 8 personnel to conduct a thorough investigation on the case.

Although it appears to be an accidental firing, the police should still verify if Hermoso has administrative liabilities due to the incident, Guara added.