Police Officer Opens Fire on Colleague's Vehicle in Lapu-Lapu City Cemetery
In a shocking incident, a police officer from the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) targeted a colleague's sedan with gunfire, striking the windshield and other parts of the vehicle. The shooting occurred on Monday, March 23, 2026, within a private cemetery in Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.
Personal Grudge Suspected as Motive in Police Shooting
Authorities are investigating personal animosity as a primary angle in this case. Police Captain Edcel Petecio, spokesperson for the LCPO, revealed during a media briefing on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, that the two officers involved had existing grudges. "Possible personal since they both have grudges. But to the extent that we can uncover the reason for the personal grudge, as of this time, we cannot provide a conclusion regarding that," stated Petecio.
Unconfirmed reports circulating on social media suggest a love triangle might be behind the shooting, but this has not been verified. Initial investigations indicate that the 40-year-old victim, a Police Master Sergeant, was inside his car at the cemetery around 9:00 AM on Monday when the suspect, also a Master Sergeant from the same Traffic Enforcement Unit, arrived in a red vehicle.
Details of the Shooting and Aftermath
Upon exiting his car, the suspect immediately fired at the victim's vehicle from an estimated distance of six to seven meters. The bullets penetrated the driver's side windshield and front areas. The victim managed to avoid direct injury by ducking or moving away from the path of the bullets.
Petecio noted that it is unclear if the victim was struck by a bullet or only by shattered glass fragments. "Based on what we saw, it might have been a graze or splinter from the shattered glasses. There was no blood, something like a scratch, but he experienced swelling," he described. The victim is now in a safe condition but has been placed under restrictive custody and disarmed.
Investigators recovered eight empty shells at the scene. Following the incident, the suspect surrendered at the TEU office along with the service firearm used in the shooting. As of now, the suspect has been detained in jail, and on Tuesday, March 24, formal charges of frustrated or attempted murder were filed. The suspect has declined to speak with reporters while in custody at the city police office's facility.
