‘Drunk cop’ faces raps for wanton firing; four young victims desist from filing case

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A criminal case was already filed against the policeman who allegedly fired his gun evening of August 5 in Jaro, Iloilo City.

But Police Staff Sergeant Nico Galvesolo will only be facing a case for violation of Republic Act 11926 (An Act Penalizing Willful and Indiscriminate Discharge of Firearms, Amending for the Purpose Act No. 3815, As Amended, Otherwise Known as the Revised Penal Code).

Captain Lester Oliveros, Iloilo City Police Station 3 chief, said that all four youngsters who earlier accused Galvesolo of poking a gun at them have executed an affidavit of non-interest, meaning they will not file charges.

Assisted by a legal counsel, the four signed the document in the presence of their parents and guardian after a settlement inside the Jaro police station.

In the indiscriminate firing case, police only submitted pieces of evidence such as the lone empty shell of caliber .9mm ammunition seized at the scene of the incident, the policeman’s service firearm – a caliber .9mm Glock 17 pistol, and the investigator’s testimony.

As of Tuesday noon, Oliveros said that the suspect has already posted bail but is still waiting for his release order.

Meanwhile, Colonel Joeresty Coronica, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director, has confirmed that Galvesolo is no longer on detailed service to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 headquarters at Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo.

Galvesolo is an organic personnel of the ICPO’s General Services Office (GSO).

He went to school and was supposed to be assigned to PRO-6 headquarters.

He was supposed to report for duty, as he already graduated from his schooling, but that has been overtaken by the indiscriminate firing incident.

“I just received (Tuesday morning) an order from PRO-6 that he will be returned to ICPO,” Coronica said.

Once Galvesolo will be released, he will be made to report to Coronica.

“We’re still planning where to assign him but for sure, he will only be dealing with admin duties,” he said.

Meanwhile, the City Internal Affairs Service has already conducted a motu proprio investigation against Galvesolo.

On Monday, the PRO-6 hierarchy issued a statement condemning Galveloso’s acts, which “go against the proper decorum of a police officer.”

It can be noted that the 38-year-old policeman turned himself in to his fellow police personnel after he was complained of poking a handgun at five youngsters and indiscriminately firing his issued firearm at Barangay Buntatala, Jaro.

Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, Western Visayas police chief, said that what Galvesolo did is “considered conduct unbecoming of a police officer.”

“We will not tolerate this kind of attitude within our ranks,” he said.

As the region’s top cop, Villaflor said he’s keen when it comes to implementing the PNP’s internal cleansing efforts, not only against illegal drugs but in all aspects of police service.