Drunk cop shoots college student in Quezon City; Belmonte orders probe

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday ordered the local People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) to investigate the incident involving a drunk police officer who allegedly shot a college student unprovoked.

Belmonte ordered the investigation after the victim, Adrianne Castor, a 22-year-old college student, filed a complaint against Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Police Corporal Reymark Rigor on February 8.

“While I acknowledge that the QCPD is our partner in maintaining law and order, it must be clear that I have no tolerance for rotten policemen in Quezon City. I am ordering Atty. [Rafael] Calinisan of the PLEB to act on this matter with absolute dispatch,” Belmonte said in a statement.

“Our quick and resolute action is the only way we can alleviate the anguish of Mr. Castor and his family, and reassure the general public that Quezon City is a safe place to be in, where no police abuses are allowed,” she added.

According to Castor, he was on his way home in a Grab car on Scout Rallos Extension when he noticed a motorcycle rider driving in a “drunken manner.”

The motorcycle rider then fell down and picked something up from the pavement, which turned out to be a gun that the policeman aimed in their direction.

The victim said he alighted from the vehicle and asked other car drivers to back up as well, informing them that the rider had a gun.

It was during this time that the motorcycle rider shot Castor, who was immediately brought to a nearby hospital.

The said incident was captured by CCTV footage and the driver’s dashcam.

An investigation then revealed that the suspect, Rigor, was intoxicated after allegedly attending a birthday celebration of a superior.

Castor also filed a complaint against Police Staff Sergeant Bryan Busto and Police Corporal Jaycee Tordil, after they allegedly downplayed his injury as “daplis” (graze) before he underwent an operation. The two police officers also left without even gathering information from the doctors.

The victim later found out that Busto and Tordil merely categorized this incident as “physical injuries” instead of the more serious crime of “frustrated murder.”

Atty. Rafael Calinisan, Executive Officer of the PLEB, said that “the PLEB commits to hear and decide this case the soonest, in less than 60 days.  This case is summary in nature, and we assure the public that justice will be served.”

Under the rules, Calinisan pointed out that the PLEB can issue a preventive suspension order against the policemen involved. Calinisan also reminded the public that ordinary citizens may file cases against erring policemen with the PLEB.

Meanwhile, the QCPD for its part said that it has already placed Rigor under arrest with his service firearm confiscated, and subjected to custodial investigation after he voluntarily surrendered on Feb. 10.

Cases of frustrated murder and violation of R.A. 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearm and Ammunition) in relation to Omnibus Election Code were also filed against Rigor.

The suspect was also relieved from his post and was transferred to the Admin Holding Unit of District Personnel and Records Management Division, after being administratively charged for grave misconduct, which facilitates his summary dismissal proceedings.

Rigor then posted bail amounting to P200,000 on Feb. 18 but was confined inside Camp Karingal while undergoing his administrative hearing.

Meanwhile, the police officers who were assigned to conduct an investigation into the case are also confined inside the camp and are undergoing pre-charge investigation by this QCPD for neglect of duty for their failure to conduct a thorough and proper investigation on the said incident.

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JPV