Philippine National Police chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Friday ordered an investigation and the start of dismissal proceedings against four police officers linked to incidents of indiscriminate firing during New Year celebrations.

Nartatez said the officers face administrative and criminal cases for violating police rules and the law. 

“My instruction was clear and simple: Do not use any firearm to greet the New Year or in any celebration. I trusted each and every uniformed personnel to maintain discipline and professionalism and focus on our job of maintaining peace and order, the reason why we did not tape the muzzle of our service firearms,” he said. 

He then warned that any police personnel found liable would be removed from the service.

Based on PNP records, those involved include a police master sergeant assigned in Surigao del Sur, a police senior master sergeant in Iloilo, a patrolman in Parañaque City, and a patrolman in Cagayan de Oro City.

Nartatez said he directed the regional directors of Caraga, Western Visayas, and the National Capital Region Police Office to disarm and detain three of the officers after their arrest. 

A manhunt is underway for the patrolman in Cagayan de Oro City, who remains at large. 

“To these four policemen who violated that instruction, pasensyahan na lang tayo. Once the investigation is done and found you liable, I will make sure that you will be kicked out of the police service,” he stressed.

The PNP is also investigating other reported cases of indiscriminate firing during the holiday celebrations to identify those responsible, Nartatez said.

He vowed to personally monitor the progress of all the cases of indiscriminate firing, including the four police officers face dismissal from the service as well as possible jail time once cases are filed.