Stray bullet kills boy in Taguig

A 12-year-old boy was killed while his friend was injured after stray bullets from a Philippine Navy serviceman’s firearm hit them Friday night in Taguig.

Police identified the fatality as Marlon Bergania of Baao Street, Western Bicutan. He succumbed to a gunshot wound while undergoing treatment at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital.

His friend and neighbor, Arnold Saguman, 13, is still confined at the Ospital ng Maynila. Suspect Seaman 1st Class Oscar Lim, 31, also of Baao Street and currently assigned at Fort Bonifacio, is now detained at the Taguig police detention cell.

PO2 Alain Sigwa of the Station Investigation Division (SID) said the incident happened at around 11:20 p.m. Investigation showed that Lim was fixing his tricycle when he heard two unidentified young men engaged in an argument.

Lim tried to break up the fight but apparently exerted too much of his authority when he fired a warning shot into the air using his service firearm.

Quoting witnesses, Sigwa said that instead of being scared, the two young men shouted invectives at the Navyman for meddling and tried to attack the latter with a bladed weapon.

This reportedly prompted Lim to shoot at the two men, who scampered away. But the suspect kept on firing until two of the stray bullets hit Bergania and Saguman who were talking on the street corner. — Nikko Dizon