Valenzuela Cop Faces Administrative Charges for Indiscriminate Firing

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer assigned to the Valenzuela City Police Station is set to face administrative charges for allegedly indiscriminately firing his gun, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday. “The organization has been enforcing a one-strike policy against indiscriminate firing, and police officers found to be involved in such acts may face sanctions, including dismissal from the service,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement. Nartatez said the implicated officer had allegedly indiscriminately fired his gun twice in Marilao, Bulacan, around midnight Tuesday. Nartatez also noted that the police officer had been placed in police custody and was awaiting criminal charges for the illegal discharge of a firearm. He further stressed that no one was injured in the incident. The PNP chief did not identify the implicated personnel or explain why the officer had fired his gun. “Our badge should not be used as an escape to do things irresponsibly. This will not save us from being accountable for our wrong actions,” Nartatez said. “As law enforcers, we should always take the lead in following the law and other rules and regulations, especially on responsible gun ownership,” he added. — Rendell Ivan Manuel, INQUIRER.net trainee /das