Ex-PBA player shot by 15-year-old boy

CEBU, Philippines — A former player of the Philippine Basketball Association was shot by a 15-year old boy early morning Tuesday in Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City.

Eliud "Eloy" Poligrates sustained gunshot wound in his left shoulder.

Poligrates, who spoke to reporters, said that he went to the place from basketball practice because he had taken a dumbbell from his friend.

When he stopped at the chapel in sitio Micabaja, he said the 15-year-old boy approached him and asked for P20 but he turned him down because he did not have any change at that time.

Unfortunately, the boy pointed a gun and shot him, hitting his shoulder.

The suspect was quickly arrested by the Mambaling police during a follow-up operation while the victim was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center.

The suspect said he would have killed Poligrates last week after the latter allegedly choked him and hit his friend with a stick. Poligrates denied the allegations.

Poligrates has forgiven the boy but decided to file a case against him.

"Gipasaylo nako siya wala may problema pero kung dili nato ipasulod siya daghan pa kaayo mabiktima kay kahibawo ko anang bataa daghan na gitira diha," said Poligrates.

According to Police Major Jonathan Beethoven Taneo, chief of Mambaling Police Station 11, the minor sidelined as “mamarok.”

It was said that someone went to the suspect and asked him to pawn the .45 caliber pistol. But while the firearm is still in his possession, he used it to shoot the victim.

"At that time naa sa iyang possession ang pusil gisugo siya para i-prenda ang pusil," said Taneo.

The Mambaling police will turn over the suspect to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and will assess as to the case to be filed against him in court. — (FREEMAN)