by Miriam G.Desacada TACLOBAN CITY — Dismissed. Disgraced. Stripped of the badge. The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has ordered the dismissal from service of a Police Staff Sergeant assigned to the Regional Finance Service Unit 8, after his gross negligence led to a bloody tragedy that claimed the lives of three students. In a decision by the Napolcom en banc, PSSg. Arla Ray Paciencia was found guilty of Grave Misconduct and Conduct Unbecoming of a Police Officer after his own 14-year-old nephew used his service-issued 9mm pistol to open fire inside San Jose National High School on June 22. Three innocent students died. Several others were wounded. A school turned into a crime scene. According to Napolcom, Paciencia was on duty when the shooting happened — but he left his government-issued firearm at home. Instead of securing it in a safety vault as required by Philippine National Police (PNP) regulations, he merely placed it inside a plastic gun box, tucked inside a plastic cabinet. A plastic box for a deadly weapon. The Commission stressed that his reckless failure to properly secure his firearm set off the chain of events that ended in unspeakable tragedy. His medals and commendations could not save him. Napolcom said his awards do not excuse his negligence — in fact, they demand a higher standard of responsibility and care. This is accountability for three young lives lost inside what should have been a safe haven — their own school. Please share Post navigation TINGOG backs bill strengthening online safeguards for children
