Police Regional Office-6 Director Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz reminded policemen in Western Visayas yesterday to handle their firearms properly to avoid accidental firing.

Cruz issued the reminder following the deaths of two policemen from Bacolod City and Public Safety Management Battalion in what appeared to be accidental firing incidents.

Senior Police Officer 1 Noel Paderan of the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion, based in Victorias City, died at the Riverside Medical Center three days after he accidentally shot himself on October 25.

Paderan, who is an instructor of about 400 RPSB troopers, was reportedly dismantling his .45 caliber pistol when it accidentally fired, hitting him in the neck.

On October 31, Police Officer 1 Ruem Fortuna, 34, a resident of Brgy. Concepcion, Talisay City, Negros Occidental and assigned at the Bacolod City Police Station 5, also accidentally shot himself in the head at his rented place in Iloilo City.

Fortuna, died the following day while being treated at the St. Paul's Hospital in Iloilo City.

Fortuna, of class Matikas 2007, was in Iloilo City to take the three-day Licensure Examinations for Criminologists and was temporarily staying at a boarding house when the incident happened.

Station 5 chief, Senior Insp. Richie Gohee said Fortuna's remains will be brought to his hometown in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, either today or tomorrow.

Cruz said what happened to Fortuna and Paderan should serve as reminders to policemen to always apply what they had learned during training regarding gun handling safety to avoid similar incidents.*APN

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