LRT guard fires gun; 7 hurt

MANILA, Philippines - Seven people, including a sexagenarian, were wounded after a security guard manning Light Rail Transit System (LRT)-EDSA station in Pasay City “accidentally” fired his shotgun yesterday afternoon.

Those injured were identified as Danny Mataging, 60; Hilda Gardose, 50; Vener Venus, 42; Jennelyn Hita, 35; Juliet Monterola, 34; Jose Salcedo, 28; and Jocelyn Mission, 24.

Most of them sustained pellet-size wounds in their feet, arms, and backs. They were rushed to San Juan de Dios Medical Center and were pronounced “in stable condition,” according to case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Joel Landicho.

A multicab (TXM 325) parked near the area was also hit by the pellets.

Security guard Roel Bustarde, 22, of Kaizan Security Agency was stationed near the elevator outside the train station when the incident happened at 12:25 p.m. He is now being held at the headquarters of the Pasay City investigation division.

Bustarde said he was “clueless” as to why his 12-gauge service firearm “suddenly fired” because his finger was not in the trigger.

“I was holding the shotgun and was surprised that it fired,” Bustarde told The STAR, adding the nozzle of the gun was pointed at the ground.

The gun was surrendered to the police but investigator SPO1 Allan Valdez questioned why the shell was “missing.”

“The shell should remain intact inside the shotgun even after it was fired. Where is it?” Valdez said.

Landicho, on the other hand, downplayed possible whitewash “because he (Bustarde) surrendered.”

Chief Inspector Raymund Liguden, head investigator, said Bustarde could face charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries because “despite his training he failed to apply safe gun handling.”

“There is no such thing as accident when holding firearms,” Liguden said.

Bustarde, meanwhile, apologized to the victims but maintained that what happened was an accident.