BACOLOD CITY – A rookie policeman is facing charges for violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban as well as criminal and administrative cases for firing at two men during a traffic altercation here on Thursday night.
The suspect, 26-year-old Police Officer 1 Ely Agonace, resident of Barangay Vista Alegre in this city, is a personnel of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1st Company based in Alimodian, Iloilo Province.
A report of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) on Friday stated that Agonace, now detained at Police Station 4, fired at Edgar Marinog and Mario Lazaga at around 10:30 p.m. at Akishola Village along Circumferential Road in Barangay Villamonte.
Marinog was hit in the left shoulder and sought treatment at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Memorial Hospital.
The right side of the windshield of a Columbia Marketing canter truck was also damaged by a bullet.
Investigators recovered a Glock 17 Gen 4 with a magazine, five fired cartridges, and one unused cartridge.
Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo, officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police Office, said the investigation will be fair and thorough.
There will be no cover-up, he added.
Ebreo said the Philippine National Police (PNP), including the Bacolod police, will not condone any irresponsible act of policemen.
Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, public information officer of BCPO, said Police Station 4 was expected to file the case of violation of the election gun ban against Agonace on Friday afternoon.
The filing of criminal case will be finalized after the conduct of the investigation, she added.
Vargas added that the administrative charge will be initiated by the Regional Internal Affairs Service. (PNA)
