Veteran cop accidentally shoots self in the head

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The head of the narcotics unit of the Zamboanga City Police Office died Saturday after his service pistol accidentally went off while he was off-duty at home, according to local police.

Police Investigator Insp. Albert Alfaro, head of the investigation division at the Zamboanga City Central Police Office identified the victim as Insp. Johnny Gargar, chief of the Central Police Station’s Anti-illegal Drug Special Operation Task Force.

Alfaro said Gargar sustained a bullet wound in the right side of his head after his service-issued hand gun allegedly went off. He was rushed to a local hospital but died at around 9 a.m.

Alfaro said the incident happened at the rented apartment of Gargar, located on Bienvenido Drive, Barangay Canelar in this city.

Alfaro said that, based on an investigation, Gargar and his live-in partner Dorothy Mae Dela Cerna, 18, had just arrived at their apartment after visiting her parents in Barangay Culianan.

It was learned that Gargar and Dela Cerna’s father had a drinking spree in Culianan before they went home.

Dela Cerna told the police that when they got home, she went up the second floor to change clothes while Gargar stayed downstairs and decided to rest on a long bamboo chair. She also reminded Gargar to put away his pistol in a safe place.

Investigation showed that Gargar took his handgun from his waist and placed it on the table, but it went off hitting his head.

Alfaro said Dela Cerna screamed for help and rushed Gargar to the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga.

Police investigators recovered a spent shell, live bullet, a 9mm Glock pistol loaded and with a magazine containing 13 rounds of ammunition.