By: Jennifer P. Rendon
A policeman was wounded after he was shot by a colleague inside their headquarters in Jordan, Guimaras early morning of Dec. 25, 2019.
Police Colonel Hector Maestral, Guimaras police chief, identified the victim as Police Staff Sergeant Jeremy Minerva, 35, of Arevalo, Iloilo City.
Both Minerva and the suspect, Police Corporal Erwin Ferrer, 33, a resident of Buenavista, Guimaras are members of the Guimaras Provincial Mobile Force Platoon.
The platoon is co-located with the Guimaras Police Provincial Office at Camp Mosqueda at Barangay Alaguisoc, Jordan.
Maestral said Ferrer and Minerva had no prior grudges and did not figure in any altercation right before the incident.
“In fact, they were buddies. They belong to the same squad,” he said.
But what’s clear was both Minerva and Ferrer were drunk when the incident happened.
“That was a no-no since both of them were inside the camp,” he said.
Ferrer told Maestral that he had no plan of hurting Minerva. They even arrived together at the headquarters.
They proceeded at the mess hall where the shooting episode happened.
Ferrer claimed he didn’t know what prompted him to pull his service firearm – a Glock 17 pistol – and place it on top of the table.
It was at that juncture when Police Corporal Francis Joe Sartaguda arrived after completing his duty sentinel assignment around 4:05 a.m. of Christmas Day.
Sartaguda was allegedly taken aback when he saw the pistol that he grabbed the firearm in a bid to “pacify” the suspect and the victim.
Ferrer was sitting beside Minerva when the incident happened.
Minerva also grappled for the firearm until it went off. He was hit on the abdomen.
He was immediately taken to Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Hospital for treatment and was later transferred to Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City for further medical attention.
Latest reports indicated that the victim is now in stable condition.
Members of Jordan Police Station were immediately phoned in to investigate.
Sartaguda then turned over Ferrer to Jordan police.
“We’re still investigating what drove Corporal Ferrer to place his firearm on top of the table. It was an act that has apparently sent panic or alarm,” Maestral said.
All three personnel will be investigated.
“Even if Minerva is the victim here, he would also be investigated why he was under the influence of liquor,” he said.
COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY
Because of what happened, Maestral ordered the relief of Police Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Cruz, the acting platoon leader of the GPMFP.
Police Captain Stephen Lee Betansos was designated as the new commander.
The investigation has already started for the immediate filing of both criminal and administrative cases.
Meanwhile, Police Brigadier Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, ordered Maestral to explain within 24 hours the surrounding circumstances relative the incident.
He also reiterated the need for the swift action about what happened.
Meanwhile, Pamuspusan stressed anew that all police officers in Western Visayas should act accordingly and refrain from misbehaving. He added that he will not tolerate erring police personnel to remain in the police service.
Shootings inside police camp
There have been previous shooting incidents inside police camps.
Interestingly, all cases involved the PNP’s mobile force platoon.
Almost four years ago, a policeman killed his superior on New Year’s Eve.
Then Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Arnold Lizada allegedly gunned down his team leader, Lieutenant Christian Lee Nelmida, inside the 2nd Maneuver Platoon headquarters at Jibolo village, Janiuay town around 9 p.m. of Dec. 31, 2015.
Lizada was charged but remains at large.
On July 8, 2018, another shooting incident between policemen happened at the 602nd Regional Mobile Force Company headquarters in Barangay Guadalupe, Janiuay, Iloilo.
Patrolman Melchor Casipe, a native of Barangay Zone 7, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, died of a gunshot injury on his back.
He was proclaimed dead at Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Janiuay town.
The suspect, Patrolamn Christian Kenneth Senon was immediately arrested. (This version corrects the names of the suspect and the victim)
