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Monday, December 27, 2004
Warnings fail to stop 3 law enforcers from firing away
* Policeman, jail guard, Navy serviceman face separate investigations, based on complaints they fired their guns during the Christmas revelry
DESPITE stiff warnings from superiors, three uniformed men were accused yesterday of indiscriminately firing their guns on Christmas Day.
PO1 Roy Jaime of the Mobile Patrol Group (MPG), JO1 Seferino Sosimosa of Operation Second Chance and Seaman First Class Nisipino Mendez of the Philippine Navy are all facing separate investigations.
At least 12 persons from Barangay Bacayan complained to the MPG against Jaime, who allegedly fired his service 9mm four times and pointed his government-issued M16 rifle at three neighbors.
According to Talamban Police Station Chief Marlou Martinez, there were two phoned-in complaining against Jaime that dawn.
MPG Chief Herman Lungayan told Sun.Star he personally arrested Jaime after their office received complaints about his behavior.
Stop neighbors
While Gayotin ordered the taping of muzzles of his men’s guns last Dec. 23, Jaime’s guns were not among those that were covered with masking tape because he already went on his Christmas break last Dec. 21.
The two firearms are in the Regional Crime Laboratory, where Lungayan submitted them for a ballistic examination.
PO1 Jaime told Lungayan that he was mad at his neighbors because they allegedly broke the windshield of his car and punctured the tires.
He was merely firing warning shots to make them stop.
In the police blotter at the Talamban Police Station, Bonifacio Soco alleged that Jaime fired his 9mm pistol about 2:15 a.m.
When members of the Talamban Police Station went to respond, Jaime could no longer be found.
Three more men
At 5:30 a.m., he allegedly returned, bringing his Armalite rifle, which he allegedly pointed at Samson Totoy, Miguel Sasabo and Vivencio Miñoza.
They alleged Jaime was drunk.
Lungayan, though, said that when he arrived, Jaime was already sober.
Acting Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Gayotin has ordered Lungayan to submit a special report on what happened.
To determine if Jaime has any administrative liability, Gayotin said the MPG officer will have to explain himself.
As for any criminal liability, Martinez said they were willing to file a case of indiscriminate firing and grave threats if the complainants want to pursue it.
Missed target
As for JO1 Sosimosa, he allegedly shot at a police officer “for no apparent reason” at 3:49 a.m. last Saturday behind the Guadalupe Church.
He failed to hit PO2 Crisanto Abella, though, who immediately reported the incident to the Guadalupe Police Station.
Abella, assigned at the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) in Ronda, had no firearm with him, so he merely ducked out of sight until Sosimosa disappeared.
Responding policemen failed to catch Sosimosa in the act.
SN1 Mendez, on the other hand, was arrested by barangay tanods and PO1 Paquito Diaz of the Mabolo Police Station after residents in Barangay Luz complained that he fired his service 9mm three times 10 minutes before Christmas.
It was not clear why he fired his gun, but residents claimed he was drunk.
He was detained at the Mabolo Police Station, but was later picked up by members of the Central Command. MEA
(December 27, 2004 issue)
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