Napolcom fires cop over gun used in Tacloban school shooting

TACLOBAN CITY—The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Wednesday ordered the dismissal of the police officer whose gun was used by her nephew in the deadly attack at San Jose National High School here.

Ordered dismissed from the service is Police Staff Sergeant Arla Ray O. Paciencia of the Regional Finance Service Unit 8 in Eastern Visayas for committing lapses that led to her issued firearm being used by her 14-year-old nephew.

Napolcom said it found Paciencia guilty of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer in relation to the June 22, 2026 incident that left three students dead and several others injured.

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READ: School shooting kills 3 students in Tacloban

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“The Commission found that PSSg Paciencia, although officially on duty that day, deliberately left her service firearm at home and kept it only in a plastic gun box inside a plastic cabinet—not in the safety vault required by PNP (Philippine National Police) rules on firearm safekeeping,” the Napolcom said.

“The Commission ruled that her gross negligence in the custody of a government-issued lethal weapon set in motion the chain of events that led to the tragedy, and that her numerous awards and commendations, including on public safety, could not mitigate her liability but instead underscored the higher degree of care expected of her,” it added.

The penalty of dismissal includes forfeiture of benefits and perpetual disqualification from public office, the agency said.

“The unfortunate events in Tacloban and other parts of the country underscore the urgent need for stricter accountability. With this measure, we are reaffirming our standard: Every police officer must ensure their firearm is properly secured at all times in the interest of public safety,” Police Commissioner Ralph Calinisan said in a statement./coa