TACLOBAN CITY – The Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas (PRO-8) vowed there will be no coverup in the investigation of a police officer whose service firearm was allegedly used by her nephew in a fatal campus shooting.
PRO-8 spokesperson Police Lt. Col. Analiza Armeza confirmed Monday that the staff sergeant is under restrictive custody at the regional headquarters in Palo, Leyte, while an administrative probe for grave misconduct and neglect of duty is underway.
Armeza said the officer's designation was terminated immediately following the June 22 shooting inside San Jose National High School, which left three students dead and 20 others injured.
Two minor students allegedly carried out the attack.
"There will be no cover-up as we conduct the investigation. We assure the public that PRO-8 will be fair because we are following established standards," Armeza said in an interview.
Under Philippine National Police rules, restrictive custody is a precautionary measure used to monitor the movements of personnel facing grave charges and ensure their availability during proceedings.
In response to the tragedy, PRO-8 has stepped up its preparedness for active shooting incidents. Regional forces participated in the launch of the Tactical Response on Active Shooting Incident program on Sunday at the Convention Center in Barangay Tabgas, Albuera.
Organized by the 1st Leyte Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Albuera Municipal Police Station, the training brought together regional tactical units to strengthen threat assessment, rapid decision-making, and coordinated operational protocols during high-risk scenarios. (PNA)