2 NCR cops held in Nueva Ecija over ‘indiscriminate firing’

CABANATUAN CITY –– Two policemen from the National Capital Region are now in hot water for the alleged indiscriminate firing of their service firearms in Gabaldon town, Nueva Ecija on April 17.

Corporal Lawrence Natividad of Novaliches, Quezon City, and Patrolman Rephidim Orozco of Tondo, Manila, were arrested based on a complaint by Chair Isagani Sibayan of Barangay Calabasa, reports said.

Sibayan told authorities that the lawmen, without provocation, repeatedly fired their weapons about 10:30 a.m. that day.

Natividad and Orozco were assigned to the Manila Police District Community Precinct and the National Capital Region Police Office, respectively.

The rookie policemen were reportedly visiting relatives in the village.

Responding authorities immediately seized the suspects’ pistols.

At least eight spent shells were recovered from the crime scene, investigators said.

Police Brigadier Gen. Valeriano de Leon, regional director in Central Luzon, said both cops were subjected to a paraffin test, while administrative and criminal complaints are prepared against them.

In a statement, Valeriano said they would never condone such “misdemeanor.”

LZB