The death of a police officer inside the San Pedro Police Office has prompted City Police Director Kirby John Kraft to order for a refresher course for some personnel in handling guns to prevent similar incidents.
“I have directed the Chief, Administrative and Resource Management Unit to conduct a Refresher Course on Gun Safety and Responsible Gun Ownership Seminar to selected personnel who will re-echo their learnings in their respective police station. This will serve as a review on how to handle their service firearm properly to avoid accident on self or other persons” said Kraft in a statement following the death of Staff Sergeant Renante D. Mercado inside the police station during his tour of duty.
“It is certain that we will be serious in enhancing the ability and competence of our police officers in gun safety and marksmanship not to have similar incidents in the future,” he added.
Kraft condoled with the family of Mercado as, he said, “until now, we are still in shocked of this unfortunate incident that claimed the life of our dear police officer.”
Kraft also called on the people to understand and be compassionate and “stop spreading ‘false and malicious messages’ to social media out of respect to the fallen officer and his grieving family.”
“Rest assured that under this leadership, his bereaved family will be extended with necessary financial assistance and we will delegate personnel to assist his family members in processing his claims,” he added.
The police report said Mercado, who was brought to the Southern Philippines Medical Center where he eventually died, sustained a wound on the left part of his head.
During the AFP-PNP press briefing yesterday held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Major Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 11, explained that the gun that caused the death was “sensitive and prone to accidental firing.”
Gultiano, however, said that members of the police force know how to handle the gun, but “we can’t really avoid that there are accidental firing.”
