A POLICEMAN was killed and another was wounded in an accidental shooting by another cop in Malabon City on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.
Senior Sergeant Christian Pacañor, 33, was killed when Patrolman Mark Jim Prado, 28, dry fired his gun.
Patrolman Jhomel Blas, 26, was wounded.
Charges of homicide and serious physical injury will be filed against Prado, according to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Debold Sinas.
Sinas ordered all personnel to immediately cease dry firing in the vicinity of their quarters. Dry firing is the practice of firing a gun without ammunition.
He also ordered the conduct of firearm safety procedures lectures/seminar for all units and stations under NCRPO to prevent a similar incident.
Sinas said Pacañor and Blas were in another room when Blas dry fired his gun, but the bullet went through the wooden wall.
"We are saddened by the untimely death of our colleague, PSSg Pacañor and the wounding of Pat Blas. May this serve as a wake-up call to everyone to strictly observe the gun safety rules being implemented by the PNP," he said.
"We all know that a single bullet can take away a precious life. Nonetheless, further investigation will be conducted and appropriate charges will be filed against the suspect," Sinas added. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/VoxPop Philippines)