Cop probed for firing gun during marital spat

A Manila policeman is being investigated for allegedly firing his government-issued weapon on Monday, hours after lawmen nationwide were instructed to seal their guns’ muzzles during the holiday season to avoid indiscriminate firing.

The Manila Police District (MPD) General Assignment and Investigation Section is looking into a complaint filed by Dick Ching, Barangay 290 chair in Binondo, Manila, against PO2 Alger Balicud of the MPD Ermita Station for allegedly firing his service weapon around 11:45 p.m. on Monday in front of his house on Tomas Pinpin Street.

The Philippine National Police had issued a memorandum earlier that day instructing its men to seal the muzzles of their guns with masking tape in order to prevent them from firing it indiscriminately during the holiday revelry.

SPO3 Job Jimenez of the Meisic police station who initially responded to Ching’s complaint said that based on the barangay (village) chair’s account, Balicud fired his weapon in anger during a heated argument with his wife.

Jimenez said that he went to Balicud’s house to verify the information but the latter was no longer there. He added that he went to the Ermita police station but did not find Balicud there either.

Footage from barangay security cameras were being reviewed to see if these were able to capture the incident, said Jimenez.