Guard wounds 2 "juvenile thieves"

CEBU, Philippines - A security guard of the old Tabunok Public Market in Talisay City yesterday morning shot and wounded two alleged notorious thieves, aged 14 and 16 years old.

Luis Pelegrino Jr., 39, a security guard of Lancer Security Agency surrendered to the Talisay City Police Station.

Pelegrino also handed over his service shotgun, which he reportedly used in the shooting.

The 16-year-old victim sustained four wounds on his foot, the 14-year-old was also hit on the foot.

The two boys, who are residents of sitio Mananga, barangay Tabunok of the same city were taken to the Talisay City District Hospital.

Pelegrino in an interview with the media said before the incident, he was chatting with his head guard Ramon Bayon when someone told them that two individuals were spotted entering one of the padlocked stalls of the old market. The city government since it closed down all stalls inside the Tabunok Public Market in late August has posted security guards in the area following reports about a series of burglary there. It also fenced the entire property.

Upon hearing the report, Pelegrino said he and some guards immediately went to the stall and there they noticed that a roll-up door was slightly opened, and that there were reportedly slippers just outside it.       Pelegrino said they kept watch just outside the stall while Bayon left to call for police assistance. At this juncture, however, the two minors emerged from the store and when they noticed the security guards's presence they tried to run away to escape. The guards ordered them to stop, but to no avail, said Pelegrino.

Pelegrino said he fired a single warning shot, but the pellets hit their feet.

The guards recovered coins from the minors reportedly from the closed stall.

Pelegrino said he only wanted to subdue the alleged thieves being part of his job, and besides, he did not want to be suspected of trying to protect them.

The stall owner Peter Sy said his store still has stocks inside it.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Eddie Recamara, chief of the Talisay City Police Station, said it is possible that Pelegrino, who is now detained at the police station, will be charged with frustrated homicide, and child abuse if the two alleged thieves are indeed minors.