Cop yields, saying he shot peer dead ‘by accident’

A policeman has surrendered to his superiors, saying he shot a colleague dead by accident when test-firing the latter’s handgun on Tuesday night.

“It was an accident. I was shocked when the gun fired,” said PO1 Pamfilo Arguta Jr., who also apologized to the family of the victim, PO1 Adrian Bermas.

Arguta and Bermas were classmates in the police training course.

Entering the force in 2015, both were posted at the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office for their first assignment.

In his statement to investigators, Arguta said he and Bermas had just had a drinking session when they decided to test Bermas’ service firearm, a 9-mm Armscor pistol.

He said they were just supposed to do a “dry fire” – or test the gun while unloaded – at Dial Compound on C-6 Road, Barangay Lower Bicutan, around 7 p.m.

But when Arguta took his turn to pull the trigger, Bermas was hit in the chest.

The victim was later declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Quoting Arguta, Senior Insp. Amsiwen, commander of the Taguig Police Community Precinct 3, said: “Bermas accidentally loaded his gun (before handing it to Arguta) maybe because of intoxication.”

Still, the Southern Police District director, Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinario Jr., said further investigation was being conducted to see if Arguta should be charged with homicide despite his claim.

Arguta will also be slapped with administrative charges that can lead to his dismissal from the service, Apolinario added.