Minor faces raps for friend’s death

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a 15-year-old boy for the death of his close friend who was also a minor.

Prosecutor III Ernesto Narido, Jr. has recommended homicide charges against a Grade 8 student of the Lahug Night National High School for allegedly shooting his classmate.

“…accused, a minor, above 15 years old but below 18 years of age, with deliberate intent and with intent to kill, did then and there attack, assault, and use of personal violence upon one Chelo Valenzona, also a minor, by shooting the latter with a gun, thereby inflicting upon him, gunshot wound to the head that caused his instantaneous death,” reads the charge sheet.

 Narido recommended P40,000 bail for the accused’ temporary liberty.

 The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the accused owing to his being a minor.  Isabel Sonit, 58, a resident of Sitio Kamagong, Barangay Lahug, said it was late afternoon on October 7, 2015 when their neighbor informed her that the accused had shot her son.

She went to the house of the accused and reportedly confirmed the information.

Sonit rushed her son to the Perpetual Succour Hospital but transferred him later to the Cebu City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 11:13 p.m. on the same day.

 “That I confronted the suspect about the incident because he was a close friend of my son…after a few minutes of thinking he told me that he did not meant to kill my son because it was only an accident,” she said, adding, the accused has since asked for forgiveness.

 PO3 Edario Manatad of the Cebu City Police Office said the accused surrendered voluntarily to them.

It is not clear, however, where the accused got the gun as he refused to disclose the information.  (FREEMAN)