Boy, grandmother hurt by stray bullets

CEBU, Philippines - A nine-year-old boy and his grandmother were injured after they got hit by a stray bullet while onboard a taxicab yesterday dawn along M.J. Cuenco St., Barangay Tinago, Cebu City.

Elizabeth Goria, 49, and her grandson, Angelo Paracueles, 9, suffered graze wounds in their heads while their four companions were unhurt.

The victims were seated behind the driver when the incident happened.

Police investigation revealed that both victims were not the targets of assailants but the taxicab they boarded was just hit by some people who had a shootout in the area past 4:00a.m.

The victims were taken to Chong Hua Hospital and are already out of danger.

Paracueles was with his parents, his three-year-old sibling and his grandmother, Goria. They just arrived at the Pier 1 from Bohol at that time and were on their way home to Barangay Camputhaw.

SPO1 Victor Ruel Ayuman, homicide investigator, said the victims boarded a taxicab driven by Edgardo Managaytay. While traveling on the stretch of M.J. Cuenco, they heard successive bursts of gunfire.

Managaytay then noticed that his passengers were bleeding.

The windshield at the back portion of the vehicle had two bullet holes but police failed to recover any empty shell.

“Ang uban nila sa sud nakabantay nga naay naghukas nga tawo nga nagdagan, unya kalit lang nipaka (Their companion inside the taxi cab noticed a shirtless person running when something suddenly exploded.)” Ayuman said.

Managaytay immediately took his injured passengers to the hospital.

Police are now requesting for a bullet trajectory to determine what firearm was used and also to check for any slug inside the vehicle.

They are also investigating if there was a shooting incident near the place where the victims were hit.

Goria was wounded near her ear while Angelo was bruised on his forehead.

Police suspected that gangs could have done the shooting as it is the usual problem in the area. (FREEMAN)