By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Cadiz City Police Station in Negros Occidental is investigating if there was foul play in the death of a police officer which was initially considered a case of accidental gun discharge.
Staff Sergeant Bernie Sales, 37, of Barangay Burgos, who was assigned at Sagay City Police Station, succumbed to a lone gunshot wound following an altercation with 25-year-old Beverly Latosa of Sagay City inside a commercial complex at Barangay Zone 4 on Thursday night.
Based on the initial investigation, Sales and Latosa were drinking liquor when a misunderstanding ensued between them.
Sales allegedly pulled out his service firearm, a .9mm caliber, prompting Latosa to calm him down. However, the firearm allegedly went off, hitting the victim on the left side of his body below his chest.
He was taken to Cadiz City Emergency Clinic where he was declared dead.
Police recovered from the scene a magazine with 16 live ammunition, and a fired cartridge of .9mm caliber ammunition.
Master Sergeant John Aldrich Lucero, chief investigator of Cadiz City Police Station, said that Latosa alleged that she is a police asset.
“Daw lahog-lahog man lang kuno ila away-away, with no intention to harm anyone,” Lucero said.
But Lucero said both Sales and Latosa allegedly grappled for the firearm, according to witnesses.
Police filed homicide charges against Latosa yesterday, pending the results of their paraffin tests.
Lucero said that Latosa alleged that she did not shoot Sales, but because of the statement of the witnesses, they filed the case.
“Wala ta pa nabal-an sin-o nagpalupok pero may mga witnesses man nga naghambal nag agaway sila armas kag amu pag lupok,” he added.
Lucero said they are not yet sure if the incident was a case of accidental firing or homicide.
