Cop sacked for illegal discharge of service firearm during fiesta
Town chief of police relieved
CAPOY (FB)
TACLOBAN CITY -- A police officer from the Lavezares, Northern Samar Municipal Police Station was relieved Monday for illegally discharging his firearm during a fiesta, Police Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, director of the Police Regional Office-8, said.
The police officer, a master sergeant, reportedly used his firearm to signal the start of a fiesta boat race on Aug. 20.
Police Col. Sonny Omengan, Northern Samar police chief, ordered the relief of the chief of police and his subordinate after conducting an investigation of the incident.
The discharge of firearm occurred during the Bugsayan-Bankaton Festival and Motorized Banca Race in line with the municipality’s fiesta celebration.
Although no one was injured, the Philippine National Police stressed that service firearms should only be used in legitimate police operations.
The PNP said they must never be used for ceremonial, symbolic, or non-operational purposes without explicit clearance and proper authority.
Any misuse will not be tolerated and the police personnel involved may be subject to administrative and disciplinary action, it added.
Omengan reassigned the police officers to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit at the provincial headquarters.