Another minor shoots neighbor

CEBU, Philippines - Another minor accidentally shot and injured someone while playing with a gun in Barangay Ermita at 7 p.m. last Friday, the second incident in Cebu City in eight days.

The 17-year-old, who was only identified through his nickname “Langaw”, shot his neighbor, Mervin Velarde, 37.

According to the investigation, the victim reported that he and the suspect were sitting and talking at a roadside in Ermita Proper when the suspect suddenly pulled out a revolver.

The minor was playing with it so the victim admonished him.

SPO1 Victor Ruel Ayuman of the Homicide Section narrated that the minor refused to listen and moments later, the gun went off and hit the victim on the left side of his face.

Velarde was taken by his fellow trisikad driver to the Cebu City Medical Center while the suspect immediately fled right after the incident.

Ayuman said the victim’s wound was not serious and he is now in a stable condition. He said they are still looking for the suspect who may face criminal charges if authorities find out that he acted with discernment when he shot the gun.

Ayuman said the suspect may have used either a .38 or .22 caliber revolver.

Last May 19, a 13-year-old boy survived with half of his body already paralyzed after he was shot in the head by his 11-year-old neighbor who was playing with a gun in Barangay Suba Pasil.

Despite these incidents involving minors playing with unlicensed guns, Ayuman said this is not alarming, adding that the proliferation of loose firearms has been a perennial problem for the police.

“Kani man gung loose fiearms, dili nato makontrol. Diri sa Cebu City, ma-check sa FESSAGS (Firearms Explosives Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory Section), but ang gikan sa Danao City, dili,” he said. (We can’t control loose firearms especially those from Danao City.)

Danao City has been branded by police as “paltik” manufacturers.

Ayuman also hopes for the amendment of the Juvenile Justice Law as people, including minors, are abusing the law.

“Ang uban ana nila gasalig. Matambagan sad siguro ‘na sila na di sila dapat mahadlok kay protected sila sa maong balaod,” Ayuman said. (Maybe someone assures them they will have no problems because they are protected by the law.)

Just recently, Sr. Supt. Louie Oppus, deputy regional director for operations, required the police in every police station in the region to personally visit gun owners whose licenses have expired and urge them to renew it immediately.

According to Oppus, their campaign against loose firearms is one way to combat the continuous production of firearms in Danao City.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man was also injured after he was shot by his neighbor who was allegedly harboring ill feelings against him in Barangay Duljo-Fatima at past 1 a.m. yesterday.

Police identified the victim as Jaime Comighod, a 3rd year high school student, and the suspect as Abloy Abellana, 30.

The victim told the police that he was sleeping outside their house when he was awakened with a burst of gunfire. He then saw the suspect holding a gun and already aiming it towards him, which prompted him to crouch.

Two successive bursts of gunfire followed. The suspect then fled. The victim was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center for treatment.

The victim further said that the suspect harbored an ill feeling over an incident over a year ago when they engaged in a fistfight when the suspect, along with its brother Taming Abellana, mauled the victim’s father. (FREEMAN)