A rookie policeman assigned to the police's elite Special Action Force (SAF) was sacked from his post for indiscriminate firing during the Christmas season.
Aside from Patrolman Loreto Abrio, also ordered relieved was his commanding officer at the 145th Special Action Company, Capt. John Louise Pacres.
Pacres was sacked for command responsibility while Abrio was slapped with administrative charges over reports that he fired his gun in Barangay Tuao North, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya on Dec. 30.
Col. Redrico Maranan, chief information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the relief order was part of the strict instruction of PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. to refrain from using firearms in celebrating Christmas or New Year.
Part of the instruction, according to Maranan, is the relief of the immediate commanding officer of the errant policeman.
The PNP recorded four cases of indiscriminate firing from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 in Iloilo, Manila and Quezon City.
Maranan said a member of the Philippine Coast Guard and two civilians were arrested.
Meanwhile, Maranan disclosed that there were 42 people who were arrested for selling illegal firecrackers since Dec. 16.