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Sinas cautions cops: Don't just shoot anybody

Philippines | National

Sinas cautions cops: Don't just shoot anybody

By Aaron Recuenco

The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned its uniformed personnel against immediately using their service firearms especially in running after criminal suspects following the incident in Pampanga when a cop shot dead a civilian who was mistaken to be a robbery suspect.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Debold Sinas held his first command visit to Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Central Visayas were at least 2,000 loose and seized firearms from police operations and New Peoples Army (NPA) surrenderees were presented in Camp Sergio Osmena Cebu City on Saturday. Sinas was once the Regional Director of PRO-7 for One year and four months. (Photo by Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN) — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Debold Sinas (Photo by Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN)

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas said that under the existing guideline, the use of firearms is only justifiable in case of imminent threat.

“If you are running after (a suspect) you have to know who the suspects really are and you just don’t shoot anybody,” said Sinas.

On Saturday, laborer Federico Pineda Jr. was riding his motorcycle and on his way to fetch his relative in Barangay San Matias when Corporal Eframe Ramirez ordered him to stop. Allegedly, Pineda did not heed.

This reportedly prompted the policeman Pineda who was unarmed.

Sinas said that during that time, Ramirez was chasing a robbery suspect and probably mistook Pineda as the fleeing suspect.

“Our existing guideline, our Police Operational Procedure, is that the threat should be imminent before you shoot a person,” said Sinas.

The case, according to Sinas, is now being investigated by the Police Regional Office 3, adding that the involved policeman was already disarmed and was charged with homicide. Additional criminal case of illegal discharge of firearms is also being readied against Ramirez.

He added that he also instructed police commanders of Pampana to coordinate with the family of the victim for support and assistance, as well as assurance that the PNP does not condone whar Ramirez did.

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