Drunk, trigger-happy cop in GenSan charged


GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A happy-trigger policeman is facing administrative and criminal charges after he indiscriminately fired his firearm while drunk in Barangay Lagao here Tuesday, July 12.

Police Lt. Col. Aldrin Gonzales, spokesperson of the General Santos City Police Office, said charges for illegal discharge of firearm and grave misconduct have been filed against Police Corporal Grecar Paras, assigned to the Mobile Patrol Unit, after he, together with several companions, figured in a shooting spree in Barangay Lagao.

Gonzales said Paras surrendered to this superior, Police Lt. Col. Ramon Gencianos, Wednesday, July 13, in Camp Fermin Lira here after he was positively identified through a closed-circuit television camera footage as one of two persons who indiscriminately fired a gun in front of a convenience store in Pioneer Village, Barangay Lagao.

The store owner, Mark Anthony Lansangan, reported the incident to Police Station 3 which immediately dispatched responding policemen to the scene.

Police Capt. Miguel Angelo Quidilla, Police Station 3 chief, said the suspects had fled the area when responding policemen arrived at the scene.

Gonzales said the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service is set to probe the administrative case of grave misconduct against the erring cop while that of the criminal case of indiscriminate firing will be conducted by Police Station 3.