Guard killed after gun goes off in his hands

A 32-year-old security guard was killed after his gun accidentally fired with the bullet hitting his head, moments after he was seen toying with the gun inside his room in a house along C. Mina Extension, barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, last Saturday afternoon.

Homicide investigator SPO3 Zenaido Pastorfide said the fatality was Victoriano Mapalo Jr, a native of barangay Katig, Liloan town, Leyte, and was temporarily residing in Mabolo with his live-in partner, 28-year-old Cherrie Plando.

Based on Plando's accounts to the police, Mapalo was apparently drunk when he went home that afternoon.

Plando said Mapalo got inside their room and she saw him draw his service revolver and play with it. Shortly after, a single shot rang out and Plando said she saw Mapalo fall to the floor.

She then saw blood oozing from the head of Mapalo and this prompted her to call for help.

Medical service volunteer Jude Embrado, of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, responded and tried to give first aid to Mapalo but the latter failed to respond to their ministrations.

SPO1 Joseph Bucayan, of the PNP Scene of the Crime Operation, recovered a spent bullet shell and a homemade .38 cal. revolver with three live bullets from Mapalo's room.

Initial investigations showed no signs of struggle inside the room but the police decided to investigate the incident. - Edwin Ian Melecio