ILOILO City – A policeman shot a resident who allegedly harassed the former’s visitor in Barangay Cadilang, Passi City in Iloilo province.
Senior Police Officer 1 Alladin Palomo, 43, of Barangay Cadilang was detained at the police station in the component city.
Palomo faces criminal and administrative charges, said Superintendent Arturo Fullero, Passi City police chief.
The victim, 55-year-old Paterno Palencia of the same village, sustained a gunshot wound on the right leg. He was confined at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district.
Palomo was binge drinking with cousins and a visitor, Lovenne Jane Solomon, at a store on Friday night when Palencia, who was also binge drinking with friends at another table, harassed Solomon twice, Fullero said, citing investigation.
Palomo confronted Palencia, triggering a heated argument between the two groups, said Fullero.
Palencia and his companions ganged up on Palomo, prompting the policeman to draw out his service firearm and shoot Palencia, Fullero added.
Palencia cannot be reached for comment as of this writing.
Palomo surrendered to Fullero and turned over his service firearm, a 9mm pistol.
“Palomo told me was just annoyed by Palencia but did not plan to kill him,” Fullero said. Palomo was off duty when the shooting happened, the Passi police chief added.
A frustrated homicide charge will be slapped against Palomo.
While waiting for a possible case that Palencia will file against Palomo, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office will investigate the policeman to determine the appropriate administrative charge.
“We assure the victim there will be no whitewashing in the investigation,” said Fullero./PN
