Minor shoots pal dead in Consolacion

CEBU, Philippines - A 13-year-old boy was shot pointblank by his 17-year-old friend while playing a “three cards game” inside a billiard hall beside a town fair, locally known as “peryahan”, yesterday morning in Barangay Cansaga, Consolacion.

Declared dead on arrival by the physician at the Eversley Child Sanitarium Hospital was 13-year-old Jade Emnace, of Purok 4, Barangay Nangka due to the fatal gunshot wound on his left chest.

Still at large as of this time is his 17-year-old friend who immediately fled on foot right after committing the crime.

Prior to the incident, Emnace was reportedly manning a rolling ball game at the fair when he was approached by the suspect asking him if he could be his extra companion so he could also earn money.

Emnace reportedly advised him to ask permission from a certain ate Ilyang who owns the set.

The suspect then told him, “bantay lang gyud ka Jade” to which the victim reportedly replied, “ayaw ko ingon anaa kay dili man ni ako.”

According to one of the witnesses that about 4:50 a.m. yesterday, Jade and two of his companions were playing cards inside the billiard hall while the suspect who was already armed with an unknown caliber of firearm was watching them.

SPO3 Roy Susvilla, Consolacion police investigator, said that in the middle of the game, Emnace and his companions allegedly had a misunderstanding regarding their bets when the suspect started to intervene.

“Nisabay siya iyang giingnan nga siya (Emnace) maoy wala’y pusta atong higayona,” he said.

Susvilla said the suspect who already had a grudge on Emnace favored his two other companions which led to an altercation until he pulled out his gun and shot Inace.

Police are now preparing criminal charges while negotiating with the parents of the suspect to surrender their son to avoid possible revenge from the victim’s family. — (FREEMAN)