Jail officer held for indiscriminate firing

MANILA, Philippines — An officer of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) was arrested yesterday after he nearly killed a driver of a ride-hailing app in what police said was a case of indiscriminate firing in Quezon City.

Jail Officer 2 Aron Paul Bartolome, 41, is facing complaints for grave threat, illegal discharge of firearm and malicious mischief.

Bartolome is accused of shooting a 42-year-old Grab driver in Barangay Pansol at around 12:45 a.m., police said.

Bartolome, who was reportedly drunk, booked a ride along Mayon Avenue, which was accepted by the Grab driver.

While on their way to the drop-off point at the corner of Katipunan Avenue and La Vista Subdivision, Bartolome, who was in the back seat, pulled out a gun and pointed it at the victim.

The jail officer fired once, but the victim managed to evade the shot and the bullet hit the vehicle’s left glass window.

The driver got off the car and ran toward two police officers who were on beat patrol along Katipunan Avenue.

Police arrested Bartolome and seized his 9mm handgun. A bullet casing was recovered in the car.

Bartolome was brought to the Quezon City Police District headquarters at Camp Karingal for investigation.