Minor hit by stray bullet in Dalaguete

CEBU, Philippines - A boy was injured after he was hit by a stray bullet in Dalaguete town while another man was gunned down by an unidentified assailant in Sibonga town over the weekend.

Gerome Villacorta, 14-year-old, was hit on the chest by a stray bullet early morning yesterday in Barangay Poblacion, Dalaguete town.

Villacorta was rushed to the Julio Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital in Dalaguete and was referred to the Isidro Kintanar District Hospital in Barangay Poblacion, Argao for further medical treatment.

Senior Police  Officer 3 Cleto Pia, the investigator of the case, said that Villacorta was in his friend’s house when they later heard a single gunshot.

Villacorta was then seen bleeding and was immediately taken to the hospital.

Police said Villacorta was hit on the chest and the bullet exited on his right armpit.

The police are still investigating the incident for the possible identification of the gunman.

In another incident, a farmer was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while on board his motorcycle in Barangay Manatad, Sibonga Saturday evening.

Nigel Potestas, 38, of Barangay Can-aga, suffered multiple gunshot wounds on different parts of his body and was rushed to the Sibonga District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Senior Police  Officer 3 Marlon Cortes revealed that Nigel was with his wife Alma, 38, on board their motorcycle and came from Barangay Poblacion where they bought food.

Upon reaching Barangay Manatad, a man wearing a yellow raincoat with a T-shirt wrapped on his head fired at the victim thrice but missed.

Nigel reportedly stopped and told the suspect “way unay gaw” but the suspect fired again at the victim several times then took off.

Meanwhile, Reggie Eorango, 34 and Euwelmar Mancao, 18, both residents of Sitio Bas in Barangay Pagsabungan, Mandaue City were arrested by Basak Police Officers in a checkpoint along H. Abellana Street, Barangay Basak, Mandaue City past midnight yesterday.

Police Officer 2 Gerald Magpantay said that earlier that day, Nilo Branzuela, 51, also a resident of the said place reported to the police that his motorcycle was stolen.

In the checkpoint, the police flagged down the two men on board the motorcycle.

Eorango, who was driving the motorcycle, failed to present any driver’s license and the motorcycle’s registration.

When the police frisked Eorango, they were able to seize two small packs of shabu from him while drug paraphernalia was seized from the possession of Mancao.  (FREEMAN)