National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Sunday he had ordered the regular gun safety training after a policeman accidentally shot dead his friend in Manila’s Tondo district in the latest in shootings by police.
Eleazar ordered the probe based on the complaint lodged by the relatives of Jason Capistrano, a delivery rider, who was shot dead by the suspect identified as Corporal Oliver Ferrer.
“I have already asked the MPD Director about this case and the initial investigation revealed that the policeman and the victim are friends, and it was a case of irresponsible gun ownership. The policeman was already disarmed, detained, and a case of homicide was already referred to the Prosecutor’s Office aside from the administrative charges that would be filed against him,” Eleazar said in a statement.
Last year, a policeman shot point blank a woman and her son after an altercation in Paniqui town, Tarlac. In June this year, a policeman shot dead an old woman in Quezon City.
Eleazar told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo: “I’ve given a directive to review, check, and ensure the regular conduct of gun safety training for our policemen so they can again be careful in carrying firearms.”
Eleazar added: “Even if they’re friends or acquaintances, even if it was an accident or not, it’s the policeman’s responsibility to accept the consequence of his action.”
Based on the initial report, Ferrer went to Barangay 183, Zone 16 to visit chairman Joseph Lipasana in Gagalangin. While they were waiting outside the barangay hall, Ferrer allegedly toyed with his firearm in front of Capistrano. The gun went off and the bullet hit Capistrano.
Capistrano was rushed to the Chinese General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
MPD chief Brigadier General Leo Francisco said Ferrer had surrendered and he was already disarmed.