Cop found dead in own room

WAS it suicide or an accident?

A policeman died after sustaining a gunshot wound in his head yesterday morning in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

Around 8:30 a.m., PO1 Arnold Law-ay, 30, was found by his two siblings and father lying inside his room with his head bleeding and a .45 pistol at his side.

They brought him to the Mactan Doctors’ Hospital, but he was pronounced dead at 10 a.m.

The police are still investigating his death.

Law-ay’s father saw him cleaning his pistol minutes before the incident, said SPO1 Alan Pantaleon, of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) Homicide Section.

Law-ay, who was single, was to report to the Police Station 5 in Barangay Pusok at 9 a.m.

Pantaleon said a bullet entered Law-ay’s right temple and went through his left temple.

LLCPO Acting Chief Rey Lyndon Lawas said there is no evidence that Law-ay committed suicide. Investigators found no suicide note.

“We’re looking at accidental discharge of firearm,” he said.

According to Law-ay’s father, the police officer hadn’t been talking much after his name was not included in the list of police officers who will be promoted, Lawas said.

Lawas said they would suggest to the family to submit Law-ay’s body for autopsy.

“Initially, no signs of foul play were found, but we do not want to discount that possibility,” he said.

Lawas said all police officers undergo basic gun-handling training during their recruitment.

The LLCPO has been conducting firearms efficiency training for police officers. Part of the training is safe gun-handling and responsible gun ownership, Lawas said.

Prior to his assignment at the Pusok Police Station, Law-ay served as a radio operator at the LLCPO. He was deployed on the street during last Sunday’s Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines.