Boy, 10, shoots playmate dead

MANILA, Philippines - A seven-year-old boy was reportedly shot and killed by his 10-year-old friend who got mad while they were playing Monday afternoon in Malabon City, a belated police report said yesterday.

Police Officer 1 Aldrin Carlos of the Malabon police Substation 2 identified the fatality as Mark Ala, a resident of Chico Road in Barangay Potrero.

The boy died from a lone gunshot wound in the head, Carlos said.

He said he could not divulge more information about the case since it is now being investigated by the station’s women and children protection unit.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Ampil and Senior Police Officer 1 Benita Terte, head of the women and children protection unit, were both out of their offices when contacted by The STAR.

Reports said the victim and the suspect were playing as teacher-student along with two other friends in their neighborhood when the tragic incident occurred.

Witnesses told police that the suspect got irritated after he failed to answer the victim’s query, prompting his playmates to call him “tanga.”

Fuming mad, the boy ran home and got hold of a gun. He returned to his friends and reportedly shot the victim, hitting him in the head.

The suspect, who reportedly has a kin in the police service, disappeared in their place after the incident.