Cop nabbed for gun ban violation

A POLICE officer of Alubijid Municipal Police Station in Misamis Oriental was recently nabbed for allegedly violating the gun ban law.

In a radio report Tuesday, Police Inspector Arnold Gaabucayan, Alubijid police chief, said Police Officer 1 Brian Labadan was arrested for firing his issued handgun indiscriminately.

Police said Labadan fired shots outside his house in Barangay Lumbo, Alubijid, following a heated argument with his common-law partner. No one was reportedly hurt in the incident.

Labadan is now facing a case for gun ban violation as implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to curb violence in connection with the mid-term local and national elections this May.

Gaabucayan said Labadan is out on bail while waiting for his case to be heard at the prosecutor’s office.

He said the suspect underwent a paraffin test and his issued firearm is now at the police crime laboratory for ballistic examination.

Test results are expected to come out next week, which will be used as evidence against Labadan.

Gaabucayan said the suspect has to be prosecuted to save the whole image of the police organization.

“Kung dili nato i-file ang kaso, basin hinoon ug madaut ang imahen sa kapulisan tungod lamang sa usa ka tawo. Basin maka-ingon sila nga selective ta kung kinsa ang kasuhan,” he said.

Gaabucayan denied speculations that Labadan was given preferential treatment after his arrest.

“Nasayop lang tingali sila (eye witnesses) sa ilang nakit-an. Sa pag-commit man gud sa iyaha, didto siya naglingkod-lingkod sa gawas while his bail bond was processed. But there was a police officer assigned to look after him. It’s a standard operating procedure,” Gaabucayan clarified.

He did not clearly state whether Labadan is now back to work after the incident.

The Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office has yet to comment on the issue as the Alubijid police have yet to forward an incident report to the provincial command.

Labadan is formerly assigned at Iligan City Police Office, Gaabucayan said. (LSM)