Boy killed by playmate was on vacation

MANILA, Philippines - The seven-year-old boy reportedly gunned down by a playmate Monday afternoon in Malabon City was only taking a vacation at a relative’s house.

“He was just vacationing but we already sent his remains home to Mindoro the other day,” a woman who refused to give her name, but claimed to be an aunt of victim Mark Zander Ala, said yesterday.

The STAR went to a compound along Chico Road in Barangay Potrero where Ala was reportedly killed by a 10-year-old playmate who got angry when he failed to answer the victim’s question while they were playing with two other children in the neighborhood at around 5 p.m. Monday.

The suspect, who was called “tanga (stupid)” by his playmates, ran home to get a gun and shoot Ala, who died in a hospital about four hours later from a gunshot wound in the head, sources said.

Residents of the compound, including the victim’s relatives, refused to answer any question pertaining to the incident. The victim’s relatives said their lawyer advised them never to give a statement to anyone.

They also refused to point to the alleged shooter’s house. They also neither confirmed nor denied whether the suspect is still in the compound. The 10-year-old boy was reportedly staying in the house of a relative who is a police officer.

A witness, who requested anonymity, said the victim’s family and that of the suspect “could have settled the problem amicably.” She refused to elaborate.

Police Officer 2 Rose Mallari, of the Malabon City police women and children protection unit, said yesterday their investigation was still ongoing but only their chief, Senior Police Officer 1 Benita Terte, is authorized to give details of the incident.

She said that they were also trying to identify the owner of the gun used in the crime and how the boy was able to get the weapon.