Boy who accidentally shot another surfaces

CEBU, Philippines - The mother of the 11-year old boy who accidentally shot and wounded his 13-year old playmate in Barangay Pasil last Saturday surrendered her son to Mayor Michael Rama yesterday.

The Department of Social Welfare Services facilitated the turnover of the boy who came from a two-day hiding in Maasin, Leyte. He was brought to Leyte by his aunt for fear of his security.

The mother and the aunt brought the boy to the City Hall with the help of the boy's godmother, Marivic Alolod, who works at the DSWS.

Alolod said the boy's mother contacted her last Monday afternoon and asked for her help because she knows that her family has the responsibility to bring the boy out. At the same time, she feard for her son's safety.

“Niingon sya nako na kami ra gyud ilang saligan sa pag-surrender sa iyang anak. And because it is in line with my job, nitabang ta pag-facilitate,” Alolod said.

The 11-year old boy will undergo debriefing and counseling by the DSWS social workers and psychologist. He will stay at the house of a close relative in Cebu City.

Dexter Paro, Social Worker I of DSWS, said that it is not safe for the child to go back to the community where the incident happened just yet. The boy, an incoming grade six pupil, will also be transferred to another school.

Paro said housing the child in a center will be the last resort. Part of healing process is to place the boy under the guidance of family members. Psychologist and social works will be visiting the child at least twice a month.

Alolod said that the parents know that their child need help because they also know that what happened will affect the child greatly.

“Naa sad na'y konsensya ang bata. Dad-on gyud na niya. So kinahanglan gyud nato sya matabangan pinaagi sa counseling,” Alolod said.

Paro said remorse was all over the boy's face.

Meanwhile, the boy's mother and aunt cried foul over fabricated reports about what happened. The mother said her son did not point the gun at his playmate and that the gun was not owned by the family.

When asked repeatedly, her son was reportedly consistent with his answer that he discovered the gun under the computer machine at the billiard hall where the incident happened.

“Napatiran ra kuno to niya sa ilawom sa hulog-hulog piso na internetan. Iyang gipunit, iyang gipabuto. Wala man siya kabalo nga naa'y bala. Nakuratan man gani sya pagbuto mao tong iyang nalabay ang pusil (He accidentally kicked the gun, which was already under the computer machine. He picked it up and pulled the trigger. He did not know that the gun was loaded),” the mother said.

She said her son is a good boy and is very obedient.

The 13-year-old victim is still confined at the hospital. Paro said the city government will shoulder all medical expenses through the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medical Program.

DSWS personnel are visiting the victim regularly to check on his condition. So far, Paro said, the boy is already out of danger

At the city police office, homicide section chief Sr. Insp. Jul Muhammad Jamiri said they are relieved that the child's parents heeded their call to surrender the boy.

“We are very happy that the boy finally surrendered. At least, the boy will be given the best assistance by City Hall,” Jamiri said in Cebuano. 

He said that while the boy is now under DSWS supervision, they would still need to speak with the boy if only to clarify aspects in their investigation.

“The boy is the only one who can shed light on what really happened,” he said. 

Jamiri said they still have to identify the owner of the gun who will face charges for illegal possession of firearms. Initial investigation revealed that the father of the suspect owns the cal. 38 revolver used in the incident. 

The grandmother of the victim also said that they do not have plans to file criminal charges against the boy who shot her grandson. As of now, she is only praying for the full recovery of her grandson who is reportedly paralyzed after the boy was accidentally shot on the head by the suspect. — (FREEMAN)