Off duty policemen violated Comelec gun ban – PRO 7 chief

After a drinking binge with friends, two policement ended up firing their guns at each other in a residence in barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City on Saturday night.

The shots were fatal.

The two cousins, PO1 Anthony Gonzales and PO1 Rey Gabutan,  were declared dead at Chong Hua  Hospital where they were brought.

The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7)  ordered an investigation into the shooting, which Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr., PRO-7 chief, described as a “despicable act manifesting a clear breach of discipline.”

“(The parties involved) did the provocation, the unlawful aggression and ignored (their) standing orders to strictly comply with laws especially on the (Commission on Elections) prohibition of carrying firearms by PNP personnel while not on official duty,” Garbo said.

Under Comelec Resolution 9561-A “only regular members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies of the government who are duly deputized in writing by the Commission for Election  may be authorized to carry and possess firearms during the election period.”

The same resolution stated that the deputized law enforcement officer in possession of firearms must be “in full uniform” and in the “actual performance of his election duty in the specific area” designated by the Comelec.

It was not immediately clear what triggered the quarrel.   They were in the company of two other police officers in the house of a female friend in sitio Eyha-English when the incident happened about 6 p.m.

The two men were not in uniform when the shootings occured.

The 29-year-old Gonzales, who’s assigned in Siquijor province,  was shot in the chest while 30-year-old Rey Gabutan, who’s assigned with the Guadalupe police, was shot several times in the body.

Both Gonzales and Gabutan are residents of the area.

Belligerent attitude

The shooting occurred amid security preparations by the city police for the Holy Week observance.

Initial investigation showed that Gonzales and Gabutan were drinking  with fellow police officers Arnel Palanas and Lejay Gumandal inside the home of their friend Natalie Apostol at sitio Eyha-Englis  last Saturday.

PO1 Gonzales pulled out his .45 service pistol and shot PO1 Gabutan who also returned fire using his .38 revolver.

SPO4 Rey Cuyos, homicide police investigator, said Gabutan reminded Gonzales of his belligerent attitude, which angered him.

With both men drunk, the two figured in a heated argument that led to the shooting.

While the two police officers argued, Palanas was busy using the karaoke machine while Gumandal was talking with Apostol.

Isolated case

All three were shocked after hearing gunfire break out of the living room where Gabutan and Gonzales argued.

PO1 Gonzales was pronounced dead on arrival, while PO1 Gabutan was pronounced dead a few hours after due to multiple gunshot wounds.

Gonzales and Gabutan were fourth degree cousins and reportedly very close to each other.

Recovered from the crime scene were one bullet from a .38 revolver and two bullets from one .45 pistol.

Senior Insp. Rosefiala Satolorin said the incident is a reminder to all police officers to exercise responsibility even when off-duty.

Satolorin also defended Gabutan, saying he was a responsible police officer who performs his duty without complaints.

“Since I assumed as a police chief, I can see he is a good policeman. He does everything I tell him without complaints,” he said.

In a press statement, Garbo said he ordered Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., Cebu City police chief, to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident.

Garbo said he ordered all provincial, municipal and city police chiefs to require and supervise their people to comply with PNP rules and regulations.

Garbo said the shooting between two police officers is “an isolated case.” Correspondents Tweeny M. Malinao and Joy Cherry Quito