CAMP BADO DANGWA, Benguet – The Philippine National Police provincial director of Abra has been sacked by PNP higher headquarters for allegedly violating the gun ban when he himself led a shooting competition inside the backyard of a local politician in the province right after the imposition of the Comelec gun ban, it was learned Monday.

Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestano, director of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), told newsmen he immediately relieved Senior Superintendent Charlo Collado who will be subjected to an investigation following reports that the police chief himself led a group of policemen and gun holders in the shooting competition inside a house of a local politician in Abra.

Pestano designated Collado’s deputy, Supt. Lawrenece Coop, as officer-in-charge of the Abra Provincial Police Office based in Camp Juan Villamor, Bangued.

Irked by Collado’s alleged violation of the gun ban, Pestano directed the filing of administrative charges against him.

Newsmen learned that it was PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa who ordered the relief of Collado and urged Pestano to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

Pestano said that since the start of the gun ban even legitimate shooting competition is banned and policemen in civilian uniforms are not allowed to carry guns.

There are reports that Senior Supt. Ernesto Gaag, Regional Mobile Force Group head of the Cordillera PNP, will replace Collado since Coop is still junior for the post.

In Baguio City, policemen charged their colleague SPO1 Esteban Wacdanang, assigned to the Baguio Police Precinct No. 8, after he allegedly turned a vacant lot near their house into a shooting range.