A policeman is in hot water after he lost his service rifle to thieves in barangay Manga in Alcantara town in southern Cebu Tuesday night.
PO2 Glendale Cabañero admitted that he fell asleep inside a police car and was unaware that somebody had ran away with his M-16 assault rifle.
Cabañero was the designated driver of a police team that was tasked to secure a barangay fiesta celebration.
He said that he stayed inside the patrol car and eventually dozed off.
Senior Insp. Al Jaca Pascual, chief of police of Alcantara town told Cebu Daily News that they too were clueless on who took the rifle.
Pascual said Cabañero will be held accountable for the lost rifle.
He added it was not the first time that Cabañero lost a service firearm.
PO3 Nestor Tonilon told CDN that Cabañero also lost his service pistol, a .9mm cal. pistol.
An errand boy allegedly took the gun, but eventually returned it after a week.
The unidentified errand boy allegedly hid the gun to get even at the policeman who had scolded him.
Cabañero, 39, has been in the police service for 18 years.
He was first assigned at Ginatilan police station and was transferred to Alcantara in 2008.
Cabañero could not be reached for comment yesterday.