By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has pledged full adherence to administrative sanctions issued against a police officer whose service firearm was used in a deadly school shooting in Tacloban City as it ordered immediate measures to prevent similar breaches in firearm security.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. on Thursday said the organization respects and will implement the decision of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to dismiss S/Sgt. Arla Ray Paciencia.
“As the father of this organization, I am saddened by how this incident ended. However, this decision underscores that every police officer is personally accountable for the proper safeguarding of issued firearms. Negligence that endangers lives has no place in the PNP and will be met with the full force of administrative sanctions,” Nartatez said in a statement.
Napolcom dismissed Paciencia for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer after her government-issued 9mm pistol was used by her nephew in the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
The incident left three students dead and several others injured. Napolcom found that the police officer failed to properly secure her issued firearm and left it at home instead of keeping it in the safety vault as required under PNP regulations.
To prevent a repeat of the incident, Nartatez directed unit commanders nationwide to conduct regular inspections and document compliance with firearm storage, handling and accountability requirements.
He said supervisors must ensure that personnel strictly observe existing regulations governing issued weapons.
The Napolcom found that Paciencia, although officially on duty that day, deliberately left her service firearm at home and kept it only in a plastic gun box inside a plastic cabinet, not in a safety vault required by PNP rules on firearm safekeeping.
The Commission ruled that her gross negligence in the custody of a government-issued lethal weapon set in motion the chain of events that led to the tragedy, and that her numerous awards and commendations, including on public safety, could not mitigate her liability but instead underscored the higher degree of care expected of her.
The penalty of dismissal carries with it the forfeiture of benefits and perpetual disqualification from public office.
“The unfortunate events in Tacloban and other parts of the country underscore the urgent need for stricter accountability. With this measure, we are reaffirming our standard: every police officer must ensure their firearm is properly secured at all times in the interest of public safety,” said Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente R. Calinisan in a separate statement. (PNA)
