Shotgun fire kills 2 boys; 2 more hurt

MANILA, Philippines - Two boys were killed when they were hit by shotgun pellets as two men grappled for possession of a homemade shotgun in Malinta, Valenzuela Wednesday afternoon.

Eight-year-old John Rey Clarabal was playing outside his family’s house as his mother, Jocelyn, sat nearby when John Carlo Bagayosa, carrying the shotgun, tried to enter the house of their neighbor, Ronnie Montemor, at around 1 p.m., according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento.

Montemor tried to grab Bagayosa’s shotgun and the two men ended up dropping the weapon. The fall caused the shotgun to fire, hitting Clarabal in the chest and Jocelyn in the arm.

The pellets also hit Montemor in the hand and his nephew, Timothy Joshua Mapalad, in the head. The seven-year-old boy was watching television in Montemor’s house when the shotgun went off.

The two boys died at the scene. Jocelyn and Montemor were treated at the Valenzuela General Hospital.

Bagayosa, who was arrested by police officers who saw him on the street with a shotgun, told investigators he was “just trying to scare” Montemor, Armamento said.

He was charged with two counts of homicide, two counts of attempted homicide and one count of illegal possession of firearms.

Armamento said Bagayosa became angry at Montemor when he heard that the latter was allegedly accusing him of burglarizing homes in the neighborhood. He said the suspect went home, took his shotgun and confronted Montemor.

“However, we are still looking at reports that the two were quarreling because of their drug-related activities,” he said.

Armamento said Montemor is not yet off the hook. He said he could also be charged because “the incident would not have happened if they had not quarreled.”