Cop hit in knee by stray bullet

CEBU, Philippines - A Field Training Program (FTP) policeman assigned at the Talisay City Police Station was hit by a stray bullet yesterday dawn while in Blanners, Rabaya Street, barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.

PO1 Marc Elde Miñoza who sustained a gunshot wound on the knee was taken to the Talisay District Hospital.

According to SPO3 Daniel Tarucan, prior to the incident, an unidentified young man was seen walking along the area towards a shopping mall in Tabunok.

The young man was reportedly being followed by three others on board an XRM motorcycle.

When the young man was near the entrance of Tabunok Elementary School, one of the passengers of the coming motorcycle fired two shots at him. But the young man was not hit.

The sound of the first gunshot prompted the young man to run to the direction of Blanners but the men on the motorcycle followed him and shot him twice.

The victim was saved once more as he fell to the ground after he lost his balance.

Miñoza was in the neighborhood traveling on his motorcycle. It was his motorbike that got hit, but the bullet ricocheted and landed on his knee.

A glass window of a restaurant in the area was also hit.

SPO2 Jerome Abatayo and SPO1 Oliver Dacua, who were stationed in Tabunok, immediately responded to the alarm and ran after the men who reportedly drove to Nonoc, Tabunok.

The policemen failed to find the men. – THE FREEMAN