Police to identify gunman in infant’s death soon

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Police are moving closer to identifying the person who fired his handgun during New Year’s Eve and hit a three-month-old baby.

Ilocos Norte provincial police director Senior Superintendent Jemar Modequillo yesterday revealed experts and informants have gathered details that pointed to the location where the gunman was supposed to have fired his handgun.

Three-month-old Von Alexander Llagas was hit in the head while sleeping inside his residence during New Year’s Eve in Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

The Bantay town police also submitted a slug taken from the left hand of 14-year-old student Willy Palacpac, who was also hit by a stray bullet last Dec. 30.

“We already have suspects in mind but we do not want to antagonize them by revealing their identities and perhaps some of those we earlier invited for questioning can now breathe easy,” Modequillo said.

He added they are not setting aside the four firemen, whom they have put under close watch.

The four, who are brothers and residents of the community where the Llagases lived, have surrendered their firearms to the police for ballistic examination.

Citing findings made by forensic and ballistics investigators, Modequillo said the fragment of the slug taken from the head of the infant was either a caliber .38 or a 9mm.