By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A rookie police officer allegedly shot a motorist late Thursday night in a supposed road rage incident along Circumferential Road in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, identified the assailant as Police Officer 1 (PO1) Ely Agonace, a resident of the city’s Barangay Vista Alegre and currently assigned to the 1st Company Regional Mobile Force Battalion, which is based in Alimodian, Iloilo.

Ebreo said Agonace was involved in a traffic altercation with truck driver Edgar Marinog and Mario Lazaga.

According to BCPO spokesperson, Police Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, Agonace claimed the altercation started after he was allegedly almost hit by Marinog’s truck while he was aboard his motorcycle.

The police officer said he was then chased by the truck driver, prompting him to pull out his 9mm service firearm and opened fire, shattering the truck’s windshield and striking the driver in the upper left shoulder.

Marinog was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital for treatment, while Agonace surrendered himself to Police Station 4 (PS4).

Police recovered Agonace’s service firearm and five empty 9mm cartridges from the crime scene.

Meanwhile, Ebreo said they will conduct an investigation into the incident and assured the public there will be no cover up.

If Agonace is found to be at fault, he may face charges of frustrated murder and violations to the Commission on Elections gun ban. He could also face administrative charges of grave misconduct, which has a maximum penalty of dismissal from service.

Agonace is presently detained at PS4./DGB, WDJ