Cop in Batangas hurt after gun inside bag goes off

A cop from the Batangas Police Provincial Office landed in the hospital after the gun inside a bag he was carrying went off and hit the left side of his chest. 

The cop had tucked the bag under his armpit but the 9mm handgun inside it reportedly went off when the cop was picking up another bag that fell to the ground. 

"Itong ating subject person ay nasa process ng pakikipag-transaction sa swapping ng kanilang sasakyan. So, after transaction, nag-aayos na sila, so inililipat niya na iyong mga gamit niya from doon sa lumang sasakyan niya, papunta doon sa bagong sasakyan, it so happened na nahulog yung isang sling bag, pupulutin niya na iyon," PCAPT. Ricardo Cuevas, Chief Investigator of Lipa City Police Station, said.

The cop is recovering at a hospital in Lipa City. 

Cuevas said it is possible that another item inside the bag might have hit the trigger of the gun. 

"Siguro dahil may kasamang mga wallet or different ID's ‘yung laman ng bag tapos may iisa lang siyang compartment, possible na na-hit niya ‘yung trigger o ng anumang bagay na nandoon, kaya nag-cause siyang pumutok," Cuevas added.

He reminded his colleagues to always adhere to basic safety rules. He also encouraged the use of belt bags to minimize the risk of accidental discharges.

"Alam naman na natin ang mga basic rules na kailangan nating tandaan para maging safe… siguro paalala na lang na kung ito ay isang sling bag, dapat wala siyang ibang kasama lalo na 'yung mga medyo maliliit na bagay na pwedeng lumusot doon sa trigger na puwedeng mag-cause ng pagputok. Kung mayroon tayo nung belt bag, mas maganda po," Cuevas said. —GMA Regional TV