AN OFFICIAL of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in Northern Mindanao said the policeman responsible for the wounding of four civilians in a "misencounter" in Barangay Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City, on May 30, is administratively liable for serious irregularity in the performance of duty.
Lawyer Robert Lou Elango, chairman of the Police Regional Appellate Board of Napolcom-Northern Mindanao, said there is a clear lapses on the part of the police officers for discharging their guns in public, noting that there could be civilians who might be caught in the crossfires.
PSSG Arman Tagolimot of Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office and PSMS Jose Rya Sevilleno of Police Station 6 in the city, were figured in a "misencounter" which resulted to the wounding of four civilians.
Investigators are still determining whose gun hit the civilians.
Elango emphasized that the use of firearms in public is a last resort.
"Dapat dili ka magpabuto nga naay risk nga naay maigo nga walay labot mao na atong nakita nga klaro nga lapse,"Elango said.
"Ang lapse magsugod sa kinsa una nagpabuto," he added.
He said the Napolcom has yet to receive the investigation report from the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo).
Acting Cocpo spokesperson Major Rey Gaudencio Taboclaon said an in-depth investigation is being conducted to determine the liability of the policemen involved.
But, Taboclaon said there has been a coordination between the MisOr PPO and Police Station 6, in the morning of Thursday.
"Nag-istorya mi sa hepe sa Puerto Police naa daw coordination anang buntag before to nahitabo ang incident," Taboclaon said.
He said the two policemen will be under the custody of their respective commanders.