Three hurt after shotgun goes off

CEBU, Philippines - Three people were injured after a security guard accidentally fired a shotgun in a gasoline station in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, past 6 p.m. last Wednesday.

The victims were identified as Saturnino Tantiado and Boyledo Avenido, both 21 years old and pump attendants of the AC Petron Gasoline Station in V. Rama Avenue. The third victim was Leopoldo Agdeppa, 29, a resident of Barangay Sapangdaku.

The suspect was identified as Aniceto Cahayagan, 53, a resident of Barangay Carreta and a security guard of the Royal Knight Security Agency assigned at the said gasoline station.

SPO4 Alex Dacua of Cebu City Police Office Homicide Section said it was a case of accidental firing but there was still negligence on the part of Cahayagan who was on-duty at the time.

Dacua said that prior to the incident, Cahayagan loaded his issued service firearm, a 12-gauge shotgun, when he was called to respond to two suspicious men who were destroying the barricade placed in front of the gasoline station.

After the suspicious men disappeared, Cahayagan returned to his post but allegedly forgot to unload the shell from the chamber and it suddenly went off.

The pellets ricocheted from the ground, accidentally hitting the two pump attendants who were working at that time. The third victim was a customer who just had his motorcycle refueled.

The shrapnel hit Tantiado’s back and left thigh, Avenido’s right leg, and Agdeppa in the right shoulder. They were all taken to the Cebu Doctors Hospital for treatment.

The suspect voluntarily surrendered to the police and turned over his service firearm.

Dacua said the two pump boys are not interested to file a case against the suspect while the management was still negotiating for a settlement with the third victim yesterday. — Niña G. Sumacot/BRP(FREEMAN NEWS)