MANILA, Philippines—Authorities are on the lookout for a police station commander who fatally shot a minor Monday night, police spokespersons told Inquirer.net Tuesday.
Southern Police District spokeswoman Chief Inspector Jenny Tecson said that the head of SPD Chief Superintendent Arne delos Santos had ordered the suspect, Police Community Precinct (PCP) 5 commander Chief Inspector Angelo Germinal, to surrender within 24 hours for shooting 13-year-old Christian Serrano on Kamagong Street in Makati City on Monday.
National Capital Region Police Office spokesman Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said that the order was made following NCRPO head Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima’s direction for SPD to hunt down Germinal within 24 hours.
Tecson said that Superintendent Victor Loares, officer-in-charge of the Makati police, has also been relieved “after failing to report or give (an) accurate and timely report (on the shooting incident).” She said that Superintendent Jaime Santos has “taken his place and will not tolerate the erring policeman’s actions.”
Administrative and criminal charges await Germinal once caught, Carlos stated, adding that Purisima said “he will apply the full force of the law if the suspect will continue to hide and not surrender. He must face the consequences of his action.”
Tecson stated that Serrano was hit when Germinal fired warning shots toward the victim and other minors who were collecting scrap metal on Kamagong Street. Serrano did not make it alive to the Ospital ng Makati, where he was rushed to receive medical treatment.