Police officer held after Cavite resort shooting kills cop, civilian
CAVITE – A police officer was arrested in Maragondon following a shooting incident that left a fellow cop and a civilian dead, and another officer wounded early morning on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The Cavite Police Provincial Office (Cavite PPO) said the individuals involved were about to leave the resort at around 1:30 a.m. when an argument broke out in the parking area and escalated into a shooting.
A police officer and a civilian died from gunshot wounds. Another cop was wounded and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Responding personnel from the Maragondon Municipal Police Station arrested the suspect, who is a cop assigned to the Trece Martires Component City Police Station.
Authorities recovered two pistols from the crime scene and turned them over to the investigator for documentation and evidence processing. The Provincial Forensic Unit was also called in to process and document the scene.
“As an immediate administrative measure, the Chief of Police of the Maragondon Police Station was relieved of his post and placed under the Cavite Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (PHAS), pending investigation,” a statement from the Cavite PPO read.
Cavite PPO director Col. Ariel R. Red assured the public that the investigation will be conducted objectively, despite the involvement of police personnel in the incident.
“I personally went to the area as soon as I was informed to make sure that all actions were being taken properly. We will follow the process, preserve the evidence, and let the investigation establish the facts. No one is above the law, including members of the Philippine National Police (PNP),” Red said.
In a separate statement, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. condoled with the families of the victims who died in the incident and ensured a thorough investigation.
“The PNP will not prejudge the case, but neither will it tolerate any violation of the law or PNP rules and regulations. We will follow the evidence, respect due process, and take the appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation,” Nartatez said.