2 cops in hot water for holiday shooting incidents

At least two policemen may start 2012 in hot water after figuring in separate shooting incidents in Manila Sunday night.

 

Two civilians were wounded after being hit by stray bullets in one of the incidents, according to a report on radio dzBB early Monday.

 

Now facing charges of grave threats and possible dismissal from the service for the first incident is PO1 Fulgencio Sideco, a member of the Metro Manila police.

 

Sideco allegedly barged into a Christmas party at a house in Manila's Tondo district at 9 p.m. Sunday and poked his firearm at one of the celebrants, before he was subdued.

 

A check of his 9-mm service firearm showed he fired it at least twice - a violation of Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome's warning against firing guns during the holidays.

 

The second incident involved PO1 Raymond Pascua of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame.

 

An initial investigation showed Pascua allegedly fired at a man who supposedly ran amuck at a funeral in Manila.

 

He used his cal-.45 pistol to fire at the man but the stray bullets hit two civilians, who were rushed to the Mary Johnston Hospital.

 

The report said Pascua was eventually arrested even as police prepare administrative and criminal charges against him. — RSJ, GMA News