Bullet snuffs out priestly dream

CEBU CITY — A bullet fired in anger by a hospital guard but which missed its target and instead fatally hit an eight-year-old boy here last Friday also snuffed out the boy’s dream of becoming a priest.

Nida Tugaon, mother of victim Flor Anthony, said even at such an early age, her son was already looking forward to serving as an altar boy at the Santo Rosario Church in preparation for the realization of his dream to become a priest.

In fact, Anthony was itching to apply for training as an altar boy but his mother succeeded in dissuading him, telling him to wait for two more years.

As fate would have it, Anthony would never realize his dream.

Last Friday, at about mid-morning, Anthony told his mother that he was hungry and asked if she could prepare him some chorizo.

Acceding to the request, Nida left her vegetable stall on B. Rodriguez street near the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center to go to their house nearby and prepare the food for Anthony.

While she was gone, an altercation occurred at one of the gates of the hospital between security guard Avelino Mahusay and Antonio Encierto, who insisted on getting inside the hospital to use the toilet.

Mahusay reportedly pushed Encierto away but Encierto came back later and stabbed the guard while he was busy checking on people entering the gates.

Encierto immediately fled but despite being wounded, Mahusay managed to put up a chase, firing four warning shots in the air and eventually catching up with Encierto near the Tugaons’ vegetable stall.

Sensing he was about to be caught, Encierto ducked for cover behind Anthony and elder brother Kevin.

Seeing the rage in Mahusay, people nearby shouted to the guard not to shoot. But Mahusay was already beyond entreaty. He fired in the direction of Encierto but the bullet instead hit Anthony in the head.

At home preparing the chorizo, Nida heard the shots and rushed back to their stall, only to be greeted by the sight of Anthony in the arms of a tricycle driver.

Nida said she could not explain what fascinated Anthony in the priesthood but recalled that her son really seemed interested in religious activities, something that she merely ignored.

Police have filed a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Mahusay, who is now detained at the Mabolo police station.

A complaint for attempted murder was also filed against Encierto for stabbing Mahusay. — Freeman News Service