Stray bullet victim still not out of harm’s way: Cops eye 2 warring gangs

MANILA, Philippines - Doctors at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) are doing their best to save John Kerth Galang, who was hit by a stray bullet as he was sleeping in their house in Caloocan City Tuesday, one of his attending physicians said yesterday.

In a related development, Caloocan police investigators are eyeing the members of two rival gangs as among those who may have fired the bullet that hit Galang, called Kerth by teachers and friends. He is supposed to graduate from high school next month.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Janet Fabile said she is hopeful that Kerth, 16, will recover. In an interview with The STAR yesterday, Fabile said the boy is conscious and has started responding to medication but is still not out of harm’s way.

She said they still could not remove the bullet lodged in Kerth’s nasal area as they are still conducting a full examination of his condition.

Fabile said removing the slug would be dangerous as it might complicate the injuries the patient sustained. She said that while it is ideal to remove the bullet, it can remain there as of the moment as the area where it is lodged is still swollen.

She added that they are waiting for the results of the patient’s eye exam to see if they could still save his left eye, which was damaged when the bullet entered his left temple.

“We can remove the slug and operate on his eye at the same time,” said the doctor.

Fabile said the case of Stephanie Nicole Ella and Kerth – while similar in nature – are different as the injuries her patient sustained are not as dangerous as Nicole’s.

She noted that Kerth remained conscious despite the injury, whereas Nicole remained in a coma after she was hit by the stray bullet that killed her.

Street fight

Chief Inspector Leoben Ong, Bagong Silang substation chief, told The STAR that members of the Tau Gamma Phi and the Batang Balwarte gangs reportedly had a confrontation seconds before Kerth was hit in his home in Phase 8A, Barangay 176.

He said they have yet to establish which of the two groups was the source of the gun and the names of the gang members seen that night.

Kerth was sleeping when he was hit by a stray bullet just before 1 a.m. Tuesday. His grandfather, Rodolfo, said an “unusual noise” roused him and he saw blood dripping from his grandson’s head.

Ong said at least two gunshots were heard that night. “These shots were meant to scare away the rival group,” he said.

Nicole’s family to help Kerth

Seven-year-old Nicole died at the EAMC on Jan. 2, two days after she was hit by a stray bullet in Tala, also in North Caloocan City.

Kerth’s aunt, Mylene, said a relative of Nicole called and pledged to help them settle their hospital bills. They have yet to meet Nicole’s family.

She also expressed gratitude to those who have already sent financial support for her nephew, adding that they are now raising money for his operation.

His mother, Marivic, was not in the hospital yesterday afternoon as she had to secure financial assistance from various government agencies.

According to Mylene, Kerth would sometimes talk to them but would usually spend his time sleeping due to the effects of the medicine given him.

Mylene said her nephew’s teachers have already visited him at the hospital.

Earlier yesterday, she said her nephew complained of pains in the back of his head and added that aside from his left eye, Kerth’s left ear was also affected by the bullet that entered his head.

She said she would not want to compare Kerth’s case with that of Nicole as they are afraid that he might suffer the same fate.

She called on the gunman to surrender to the police and pay for the crime.