Tanod's gun goes off during game

CEBU, Philippines - The chief tanod of Barangay Cabungaan in the northern town of Catmon accidentally shot his relative when his revolver, which was tucked on his waist, fell to the ground while they were playing basketball last Monday afternoon.

Charlie Duran, 24, a motorcycle-for-hire driver, sustained a gunshot wound on the right side of his neck. He was rushed to the Juan Dosado Memorial Hospital in the neighboring town of Sogod and was later transferred to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

The chief tanod, Beneto Suday, 54, voluntarily surrendered to the police after the incident. He was detained at the Catmon police stockade and is expected to be released today.

The .38 revolver was reportedly loaded with six bullets. The gun, including its five remaining bullets and one empty shell are now under police custody.

Suday and Duran were playing basketball at the barangay’s basketball court when the gun slipped off Suday’s waist and fell to the ground in the middle of the game. It went off and hit Duran.

SPO2 Elvis Archie, chief of the Catmon Police, said they will submit the revolver to the Firearms Explosives Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory to check if it is licensed.

If the gun is not licensed, Suday may face charges for violation of illegal possession of firearms even as the families of the two men agreed not to pursue a case.

Tanods are only allowed to carry a baton locally known as “batuta”.

Just last month, three children were wounded after a security guard believed to be under the influence of liquor accidentally fired his gun while on duty at a restaurant in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

The security guard, John Carlos Rafols of the Sikatuna Security Agency, had admitted having taken liquor before going to work at 7pm. 

The injured children are the children of his Korean employer. — (FREEMAN)