Authorities are looking at severe intoxication and other factors, not jealousy over a woman, as the possible reason that led to a shooting incident that left three police officers and one woman dead inside a bar in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
The deadly shooting on January 9 involved a police sergeant assigned to the Sibulan police station.
In a press briefing yesterday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said the suspect, in an unsigned statement, claimed he felt that his fellow officers were ganging up on him.
“Merong mga report na parang pinagkakaisahan siya ng mga kasamahan niya sa intelligence unit ng nasabing police station,” he said.
The PNP dismissed earlier speculation that the incident stemmed from jealousy involving a woman who was also killed in the shooting.
Tuaño said the suspect had only been assigned to the station on December 8 last year, while the woman had been working at the bar for only about two months.
Instead, authorities attributed the incident to excessive alcohol consumption during a birthday celebration of the chief of police.
“Tinanggal na nila ‘yung anggulong tungkol sa babae. Ito ay ina-attribute nila sa sobrang kalasingan dahil sa birthday celebration ng chief of police. Nagsimula pa ‘yung kanilang inuman sa police station at dinire-diretso nila sa nasabing restaurant,” Tuaño said.
Tuaño clarified that the three police officers who were killed were not responding officers but were already inside the establishment at the time of the incident, along with two other policemen.
“Nung mangyari ‘yung pamamaril, hinuli nila, dines-armahan ng caliber. 45. Ang pagkakamali lang dahil hindi kinapkapan, at hindi pinosasan, meron pa siyang issued [na baril],” Tuaño said.
“Pagdating sa loob [ng sasakyan], sila ay nagtalo-talo at doon nagsimula ang pamamaril. At ‘yung dalawa na naiwang pulis na naka-motor, sila ‘yung tumawag sa medical personnel,” he added.
Following the incident, the provincial director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office and the deputy chief of the Sibulan police station were relieved from their posts.
In a separate statement, acting PNP chief Police Lt. General Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. ordered all unit commanders and heads of offices to strictly supervise their personnel and ensure discipline and professionalism within the ranks.
Nartatez also ordered the filing of airtight criminal and administrative cases against the police sergeant involved to ensure his dismissal from the service and imprisonment.
He warned all police personnel against acts that could compromise the integrity and image of the PNP, stressing the organization’s zero-tolerance policy for immoral, illegal or unethical behavior. (ABS-CBN News)