DOH appeals to gun owners after stray bullet death of minor in Bulacan

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) called on gun owners to be responsible after a nine-year old girl was killed by a stray bullet in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

“We again appeal to gun owners to avoid indiscriminate firing and be responsible gun owners,” DOH Secretary Janette Garin said.

DOH also condemned the loss of an innocent child’s life who was just playing on Christmas Eve when she was hit by a stray bullet with an undetermined origin. Based on the records and validations, the girl played in the neighborhood near the Ipo Dam in Bulacan.

According to the mother of the girl, she only noticed that her daughter had bloody spots at the back part of her body when she went home from playing and assumed it was obtained from playing. She did not immediately suspect that her daughter was hit by a stray bullet.

The mother of the girl recalled that the girl’s condition worsened on Christmas day and when brought to the hospital, her daughter’s internal organs such as liver and kidneys were already damaged.

DOH spokesperson Lyndon Lee-Suy said that in cases similar to the young girl, parents or relatives or caregivers of the children are advised to immediately rush the victim to the nearest hospital to determine the injuries and be addressed with proper-check-up.

Lee-Suy also appealed to gun owners and told them that conscience should prevail when they engage in random firing.

 “Hindi makadadagdag ng kasiyahan ang pagpapaputok indiscriminately ng baril…Kung di lalabas at susuko (ang gumawa ng pagpapuputok ng baril na ikinasawi ng biktima) dala niya (ng taong nagpaputok) ito panghabampanahon,” Lee-Suy said.