ILOILO – A police officer assigned at the Barotac Nuevo Municipal Police Station (MPS) was found dead at the station’s rooftop early yesterday morning, July 9.
The victim, identified as alias “Rich”, 36, was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head at around 5:30 a.m. by Police Master Sergeant Antonio A. Paraico Jr., the duty team leader at the time.
A Taurus TS9 pistol, a government-issued firearm, was found beside his body, along with an empty shell located approximately two meters away.
Immediately after the discovery, Police Captain Cedrick B. Cruz, officer-in-charge of the station, requested the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) to process the scene.
In an interview, Police Major Rolando Araño, spokesperson of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), said that while suicide is being considered, it has not been confirmed as the cause of death. He urged the public to refrain from making premature conclusions.
“Suicide is one of the possibilities, but it remains under investigation,” said Araño. “We are also looking into the possibility of an accidental discharge.”
As of press time, there was no official record indicating that the victim accidentally discharged a firearm, but authorities said this angle will also be thoroughly examined.
According to reports, some residents and traffic enforcer Ronnie Magallanes claimed to have heard a gunshot around 4:30 a.m. However, no formal report was filed with the station before the body was found.
Araño noted that due to wind direction, it is possible that the sound of the gunshot from the rooftop was not easily heard within the station premises.
On the subject of the cop’s mental health, Araño said the police have not yet gathered detailed information from the officer’s family out of respect for their mourning. He assured that that the victim’s psychological background will be part of the ongoing investigation.
“He was observed to have a good relationship with his colleagues and was described as being in good spirits before the incident,” said Araño, adding that the sudden death came as a shock to his coworkers.
When asked about the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) mental health support, the IPPO spokesperson emphasized that the PNP actively implements wellness programs, including a “Squadding System,” which organizes personnel into small teams for regular meetings and peer check-ins.
“We have systems in place where teams meet from time to time to talk, especially if any of them are facing personal issues. We also have specific programs for mental health management,” Araño said.
The Barotac Nuevo MPS also runs a weekly online segment on mental health as part of its “Kape Kag Balita” information program.
As of this writing, authorities continued to investigate the incident thoroughly, including forensic analysis, personnel interviews, and family background checks, to determine the exact circumstances behind the victim’s death.
Meanwhile, for any mental health concerns, kindly contact the Philippine Hopeline numbers 0917-558-4673 or 0918-873-4673. You may also contact the hotline for National Center for Mental Health Crisis: 1553 (landline) or 0966-351-4518./PN
