Boy, 8, dies after dad’s gun goes off

CEBU, Philippines - An eight-year-old boy died while his seven-year-old sister is in critical condition after their father’s improvised shotgun went off inside their house in Barangay Sto. Niño, Toledo City yesterday morning.

The boy, Michael Miñoza, did not make it alive to the Balamban Provincial Hospital in nearby Balamban town. His sister, Angel, is now confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Michael was a grade one student while Angel is in kindergarten at Sto. Niño Elementary School in Toledo City.

The father, Bobby, 30, was arrested at the hospital in Balamban. Police also recovered the improvised shotgun known locally as “sumpak.”

Insp. Gilfred Baroman, deputy chief of  the Toledo City Police Station, said the incident stemmed from an apparent disagreement between Bobby and his mother, Valentina, and sister, Leonelsa, over money matters.

Prior to the incident, Bobby reportedly asked his mother and sister’s share of the electricity bill amounting to P400. The two women live in a separate house and have tapped on Bobby’s electrical connection. Reportedly, the agreement was that they would give their share of the payment straight to Bobby.

“Bale ni-tap lang ni iyang igsuon ug inahan sa ilaha kay sila ra man gyud ang dunay kuryente unya sabot nila nga maghatagan lang sila ug kwarta kang Bobby,” Baroman told The FREEMAN.

However, Bobby reportedly got irked when the two refused to pay him and started raising their voices.

“Ingon siya nga maayo na lang unta to bawi-bawi sa iyang nabayran unya basin naapiki pud ang gipa-ningil unya gisapot,” Bobby said.

At this point, Bobby left the two women and went inside his room. When he returned, he was already bringing the improvised gun and the firearm went off and hit his two children.

“Loaded man gud ning sumpak unya kung once matarog ni, mubuto gyud ni kay dili man ni safe,” Baroman said.

Upon seeing his children hit, Bobby rushed the two to the hospital but Michael did not make it alive.

Baroman said Bobby feels remorseful for what happened.

The police are yet to talk to Bobby’s wife but other family members have reportedly expressed their intention to file charges against him. —/JMO (FREEMAN)