Village security officer killed in accidental gunfire in QC

MANILA, Philippines — A barangay (village) peace and security officer (BPSO) was killed on New Year’s Day when his improvised shotgun accidentally went off, sending a bullet that hit him inside a barangay hall in Quezon City.

Edilberto Roque, 50, a BPSO of Barangay Lupang Pangako in Payatas B, was declared dead on arrival by attending doctors at East Avenue Medical Center after he blew off his right hip with the sumpak (improvised shotgun).

PO2 George Caculba of the Quezon City Police District’s  Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit said that the accidental firing happened around 2 a.m. on Wednesday.

Caculba said that before the fatal shot, Roque was on duty with six other BPSOs and seated at the desk officer’s table inside the barangay hall while tinkering with the sumpak.

The other BPSOs told Caculba they heard Roque loading and cocking the improvised shotgun. Several minutes later, the victim stood up and they heard the shotgun go off. They found him bleeding badly from a wound in the hip.

They rushed the wounded BPSO to the hospital to try to save him but their effort proved futile.