Abra exec surrenders gun to stray bullet slay probers

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The vice mayor of Tayum, Abra surrendered his gun for ballistics examination to help in the investigation of an 11-year-old girl’s death from a stray bullet during the New Year revelry in his town.

Vice Mayor Bienvenido Dion Jr., who resides near the house of Jercy Decym Tabaday, yielded his caliber. 45 pistol with Serial Number 763874 to Tayum police chief Senior Inspector Daniel Bandoc on Wednesday.

Efren Tabaday, father of Jercy, told The STAR he never considered the vice mayor a suspect.

Tabaday said Dion also came to his daughter’s wake, but did not mention his plans to surrender his gun.

Inspector Mary Grace Marron, Abra police spokesperson, said Dion’s gun would be sent to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory Service for ballistics tests to determine if the gun matches the bullet extracted from Tabaday’s skull.

Officials said Dion did not undergo paraffin test unlike the victim’s father and his four drinking buddies a day after the shooting.