A team leader of the 1st Regional Mobile Group ran amuck Sunday evening, firing his M-16 rifle at his companions but was shot dead after a two-hour standoff at the RMG barracks in Mabinay, Oriental Negros.

The fatality, Police Officer 1 Danilo Icot, single, who hails from Siquijor, was immediately brought to the Mabinay Medicare Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police provincial director Senior Supt. Melvin Buenafe said, Scene of the Crime Operatives are conducting an investigation and gathering evidences.

Initial investigation disclosed that, earlier that day, Icot went for a drink at a videoke bar in the town.

He returned to the camp at about 7:35 p.m. Sunday, and went straight to the hut where several of his colleagues were having dinner.

Icot reminded members of the police augmentation team to provide security at a barangay fiesta of Barras that evening, and then went to his quarters to get his rifle.

Investigation also showed that Icot was irked by the way his companion, PO1 Alexander Lado answered him, and he attacked the latter with fist blows. Other RMG personnel pacified them and disarmed Icot of his rifle.

Icot, however, went back to quarters, got another rifle and fired towards the direction of his companions who ran outside the barracks.

At about 9 p.m., the victim was already sprawled on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds and was immediately rushed to the hospital.

Buenafe said the result of the SOCO probe will be used as basis in determining the administrative liability of the RMG commanding officer, Insp. Reynaldo Rascam, and the police officers involved in the gun fight.

Placed under investigation, aside from Insp. Rasca, are PO1s Gil Quillope, Reynante Yap, Nodielon Dagodog, Mac Arthur Masicampo, Domingo Oplimo, and Alexander Lado, all of the 1st RMG, Central Visayas command.

Their service firearms were submitted for ballistic examinations and they were also subjected to paraffin tests.

Buenafe said what happened was a slap on the Philippine National Police and should serve as a lesson for all police commanding officials.

He said his office, though having no direct supervision on the administrative responsibility of the policemen, will conduct an independent investigation. Up to press time yesterday, the victim's body was still at the hospital morgue. Reports said his father, a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is set to claim it. *RG/MA

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