Azurin orders refresher on how to properly clean guns after accidental firing in Laguna

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will investigate the accidental gun-firing incident which led to a policeman's death after he was accidentally shot by a fellow cop who was cleaning firearms in San Pablo City, Laguna.

PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said he has given directives to the police commanders to direct their personnel on reviewing proper cleaning and assembling of guns to avoid a similar incident.

“As a matter of fact, definitely automatic naman yun yung iimbestigahan yung naka-accidental firing. I have given directives sa mga commanders natin na siguro review nila yung kanilang mga personnel kung paano 'yung tamang paglilinis, tamang pagkakalas ng baril,” he said in an interview with the reporters.

(As a matter of fact, there will be an investigation. I have given directives to our commanders that maybe they should review their personnel on how to properly clean and properly remove bullets from guns.)

“Kung mapapansin ninyo ay nageevolve na rin tayo sa mga binibiling baril eh, so makita ninyo iba iba na yung brand na binibili natin kasi nga these are also part of the procurement [process],” he added.

(If you notice that the guns we were procuring are also evolving, you can see that the brands we buy are different because these are also part of the procurement process.)

Based on the police report, the victim was identified as Police Corporal Fhrank Aldene Yasay Dela Cruz, 30 years old, stationed in San Pablo City and residing in Brgy. Conception, Laguna.

The incident happened at the barangay hall of Brgy. 1-B in San Pablo City.

The suspect, Police Corporal George Mervin Cañete Duran, said that they were cleaning their service firearms for an inspection when another person approached him and said that they exchanged guns.

The suspect returned his gun and examined it. However, when he was about to remove the load from the chamber, the gun accidentally went off and hit Dela Cruz in the right chest.

Dela Cruz was immediately brought to the hospital, however, the attending physician declared him dead on arrival.

Asked if the police will be required to conduct continuous seminar and gun training, Azurin said “This should be part of the regular na information and education na kinoconduct every Monday ‘yan eh so dapat this are part of the discussions dapat na ginagawa ng ating chief of police or ng ating mga sargeant majors para sa ganoon ay constant reminder para sa ating kapulisan especially very basic yun pagmaglilinis ka ng baril icheck muna, hindi siya loaded.”

(This should be part of the regular information and education that is conducted every Monday, so this should be part of the discussions that should be done by our chief of police or our sergeant majors so that it is a constant reminder for our police force especially that is very basic when you clean the gun check first if it is not loaded.)

“Minsan loaded pala hindi nila alam pagtanggal ng magazine hindi nila alam may naiwan na bala doon. Ito yung tinitignan natin dapat more on safety ang titignan nila na every time na may hawak sila ng baril they always assume na loaded yan kaya dapat kiniclear mo yan when you start cleaning your firearms,” he added.

(There were times that it was loaded, they didn't know how to remove the magazine, and they didn't know there was a bullet left there. This is what we look at. They should look more at the safety side. Every time they hold a gun, they must always assume that it is loaded, so you should clear it when you start cleaning your firearms.)