A member of the elite PNP Special Action Force was reported yesterday to have fired his gun indiscriminately after losing in a card game in Brgy. Ayungon, Valladolid, Negros Occidental.

Now in hot water is Police Officer 1 Federico Armateo, a police SAF trooper assigned in Metro Manila.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday said the incident was reported by Ayungon barangay captain Elsa Lomugdang to the Valladolid Police Station.

Lomugdang also turned over six empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol, recovered by her tanods from the scene.

Franco said the SAF trooper would have been arrested and jailed if the incident had been immediately reported to the Valladolid Police Station. Lomugdang, meanwhile expressed willingness to pursue the complaint against Armateo.

Kagawad Joel Lomugdang, said in a radio interview, that Armateo fired his gun in front of the house of the barangay captain, for no reason, at about 4 a.m. yesterday in Brgy. Ayungon, Valladolid.

Evangeline Reyes, a witness, told DYHB that she saw Armateo firing his gun several times, after losing in a card game.

Armateo who arrived in Brgy. Ayungon on May 20 to visit his friends, is reportedly returning to Metro Manila today.* GPB

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