Drunk, trigger-happy cop arrested for 2nd time

A POLICEMAN who was arrested in Caloocan City in 2014 for turning trigger-happy while drunk was again apprehended Saturday night in Navotas City.

PO1 Michael Sean Tabarangao was heavily intoxicated and appeared high on drugs when he went into the house of Darrel Abella on C-4 Road, Barangay NBBS (North Bay Boulevard South) and threatened to shoot the latter with a .45-cal. pistol.

Tabarangao’s motive remained under investigation, but PO2 Paul Roma, the Navotas officer on the case, said it may be over a woman or illegal drugs. Still in detention on Sunday, the officer was also set to undergo a drug test.

Senior Supt. Dante Novicio, the chief of Navotas police, said Tabarangao used to be under the Eastern Police District but currently reports to the holding unit of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) for officers who are facing criminal or administrative cases.

On Dec. 2, 2014, Tabarangao, was charged with illegally discharging his firearm and for alarm and scandal after he challenged a neighbor to a fight. He was then directly reporting to the NCRPO.

In the latest incident in Navotas, he was apprehended shortly after leaving the house of Abella, who was able to alert a roving police team.

Tabarangao was casually walking on the road, his pistol jutting out of his waistband, when the arresting team found him.

According to Roma, Tabarangao only “borrowed the gun” and that its license was already expired.

The officer would be charged with attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and violation of the election gun ban, he added.