Boy, 12, killed by father cleaning gun

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A man was detained after he accidentally shot and killed his son while cleaning his handgun in a village in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, according to police on Saturday.

Police identified the suspect as El Porlonga Sr., 36, while the victim as El Rillon Porlonga Jr., a 12-year-old first year highschool student.

Police Chief Inspector Rogelio Alabata, spokesman of the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said the suspect was reportedly cleaning his caliber .45 pistol inside their house in Barangay Dao Thursday about 4:30 p.m. when he accidentally pulled the trigger and hit his son.

Porlonga Sr. rushed his son to the nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The suspect voluntarily surrendered to the police.

Alabata said further investigation disclosed that the handgun of the suspect was registered but has expired last year.

He said the suspect will be charged for parricide and possession of loose firearm, not for violation of the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections since the incident occurred inside their home.