Detainee shot dead after grabbing cop’s gun, wounding two at Mandaluyong PNP

Mugshot of detainee Emerson Bernaldez, who was shot dead after grabbing firearm of police in Mandaluyong City Jail. /Eastern Police District PIO

MANILA, Philippines — A 39-year-old detainee was shot dead after he reportedly grabbed the firearm of a policewoman and wounded two police officers at the detention cell of the Mandaluyong City police on Thursday afternoon.

In a phone interview with reporters, Mandaluyong police chief Col. Hector Grijaldo Jr. said the detainee identified as Emerson Bernaldez was returning to his detention cell after using the toilet when he grabbed the firearm of Police Corporal Michelle de Jesus and used it to shoot her.

Police Corporal Shane Managtag reportedly came to help De Jesus but Bernaldez also shot him, hitting him in the abdomen.

Subsequently, Police Staff Sergeant Daniel Gancho went to help the wounded police officers and fired at Bernaldez, who died on the spot. Managtag and De Jesus were brought to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Grijaldo said Bernaldez was detained for attempted homicide with alarm and scandal, noting that the detainee was already feeling “impatient” inside the jail.

“Nakulong ng alarm and scandal. Nakulong ng isang buwan, hindi ganun kalaki kaso niya. Na-obserbahan ng mga preso dito na medyo buryo na ito, at ngayon hindi na kasi nagpapadalaw sa preso bawal kasi sa pandemic,” he said.

(He was arrested over alarm and scandal. He was detained for a month, his case was not that heavy. Some of his fellow inmates observed that he is already bored and being impatient, especially now that visitors are not allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

After the incident, Grijaldo instructed his personnel to stop bringing firearms when accompanying detainees so that the prisoners won’t be given the chance to get it from them.

There are over 180 prisoners now detained at the cell of the Mandaluyong City police, Grijaldo said.

JPV