2 cops, 1 soldier charged with indiscriminate shooting during New Year revelries

MANILA, Philippines—At least 10 persons, including two policemen and a soldier, have been appropriately charged after they were found to have been involved in indiscriminate firing of guns before and during the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Speaking to reporters after leading the ceremonial unsealing of tapes covering the barrels of cops’ service firearms on Monday, Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said that Police Officers 2 Fulgencio Sedeco and Efren Dimaiwat have been slapped with charges of haphazardly firing their guns, along with a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines identified as Corporal Reynold Reyes, security guard Noel Briones and six civilians.

Dimaiwat, however, eluded arrest, leaving at the crime scene several spent shells from a 9-mm handgun. The shells are now subject to ballistics examination, the chief said.

One of the arrested civilians was identified as Benedicto Salamatin. Bartolome said Salamatin was the only person recorded to have engaged in a shooting spree during the New Year’s Eve revelry around 3 a.m.

Stray bullets

While the Department of Health has reported 18 stray-bullet incidents during the New Year’s Eve revelry, the PNP chief admitted that unless the spent shells of the bullet are recovered, the process of tracing the weapon owner is complicated and will require additional investigation.

During the paraffin examination, several factors may affect the accuracy of the results, according to Chief Superintendent Lorlie Arroyo, crime laboratory head.

Arroyo said that the person must undergo the gun powder test within 72 hours from the firing of the gun, especially since the Philippines is a tropical country where people can sweat due to the warm weather.

Arroyo explained that the nitrates imbedded in the skin pores are exuded when the person sweats.