Toddler killed in NAIA shooting laid to rest

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines   â€“ The 18-month-old boy from this city, who was hit by a stray bullet in the assassination of a Zamboanga del Sur mayor at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Dec. 20, was laid to rest here last Saturday morning.

Phille Tomas Estoesta died instantly when a stray bullet pierced his head while his family was waiting for their vehicle at the NAIA Terminal 3 arrival area. 

The bullet came from two motorcycle-riding men, one clad in a police uniform, who gunned down Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Ukol Talumpa, his wife, Lea, and their nephew, Salipudin Talumpa, 25, as they emerged at the arrival area.

“God will give justice in time,” Danny Uy, the toddler’s uncle, told The STAR. 

The boy’s mother, Marie Ann Lirazan, 29, said they were leaving it up to God to give justice to her son, but that she was hoping that justice would be served soon.

“Thank you to all the families and friends who supported us financially and (through) prayers... (They are all) too many to mention because support came from everywhere,” Uy said in a text message yesterday.

Uy particularly thanked Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia who worked for assistance for them from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), which facilitated the surgeries for Lirazan and her mother Amalia, 58, and his three-year-old daughter Dhianne Philippe, who were also hit by stray bullets.

A bullet fractured the bones in Lirazan’s left hand and she would undergo surgery in two weeks. She is also undergoing stress debriefing from a psychiatrist.

Uy’s daughter, who was hit by a stray bullet in the head, is now recovering, as well as Lirazan’s mother who was hit in the back, with the bullet exiting through her breast.

Uy also thanked Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella, who gave a P20,000 cash assistance to Lirazan and an undisclosed amount for his daughter and Lirazan’s mother.

Uy also expressed his gratitude to Vice President Jejomar Binay, Health Secretary Enrique Ona and Assistant Secretary Roland Cortez, PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas, and the management and staff of the Ospital ng Makati, East Avenue Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and FilSino Athletic Club.

Eight members of the Lirazan and Uy families brought home Phille Tomas’ body on Dec. 31, and were met at the Bacolod-Silay Airport by Leonardia who facilitated their land transport in Manila and Negros.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, chairman of the House committee on transportation, will file today a bill seeking a review of the security protocols in airports, particularly the installation of closed-circuit television cameras. Leonardia is the senior vice chairman of the committee.