Stray bullet victim wants to attend graduation ceremony

MANILA, Philippines - Jhon Kerth Galang, the 16-year-old student who was hit by a stray bullet in Caloocan City before dawn Tuesday, wants to attend his high school graduation, his mother told The STAR yesterday.

In an interview at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), where Kerth is currently confined, Marivic Galang said her son was able to talk to them and convey his desire to attend his graduation next month.

“But we don’t know if he can attend his graduation because he still has to undergo an operation to remove the bullet in his head,” she said in Filipino.

Marivic said Kerth understands the need for him to remain at the hospital as his condition remains sensitive. She said Kerth’s teachers and classmates have already visited her son at the hospital.

According to her, Kerth wants to become a policeman or a pilot but she is trying to convince him to take up computer science instead because they do not have the means to support his preferred courses.

“Right now, all we want is for him to recover,” Marivic said. “I told him that I will do anything for him.”

Getting better

Marivic said her son, whose condition has improved in the past few days, has started to regain his appetite and even asked for his favorite food from a local fastfood restaurant.

“He also asked for his cell phone to send some text messages to his friends,” she added.

And while they gave him the opportunity to do so, Marivic said they are limiting his activity as he is still not out of harm’s way.

She said she is still worried for her son as the bullet remains lodged inside his head. Doctors are still monitoring Kerth’s condition and have yet to schedule his operation.

Earlier, neurosurgeon Dr. Janet Fabile said removing the slug would be dangerous as it might complicate the injuries the patient sustained. The doctor added that Kerth’s left eye was affected by the injury. She said they would still conduct tests to see if they could save his vision.

Marivic is hopeful that the doctors would be able to safely remove the bullet and save her son’s left eye. She said they have started raising money for Kerth’s operation and sought financial assistance for her son. She also expressed gratitude to those who have already pledged to support them.

Marivic confirmed that an uncle of Stephanie Nicole Ella has called them and pledged to provide support for the family. Seven-year-old Ella died on Jan. 2 after she was hit by a stray bullet during the New Year’s Eve revelry in Tala, also in Caloocan City.

Rarely absent

Kerth’s adviser, Aileene Marcelo, said he belongs to Section 18 out of the 23 sections for fourth year students and his voice is hardly heard in the classroom.

“He studies hard. He goes to school every day. He is rarely absent,” she said.

Marcelo said that when she visited him at the hospital Wednesday, Kerth talked to her despite having a throbbing headache. She said he apologized to her for being absent and promised that he would go back to school.

Marcelo said when Kerth is asked to finish a school project, he does it without any qualms even if he finds it difficult.

“I have never received a complaint about him or his behavior. He is quiet in class,” said Marcelo, who is also Kerth’s physics teacher.

Once classes end for the day, Marcelo said she heard Kerth likes to play computer games.

Investigation continues

Kerth was sleeping when a stray bullet hit his left temple just before 1 a.m. Tuesday. Marivic said her son initially thought he was hit by a rock.

“We rushed him to the nearby Tala Hospital when we saw the blood on his head,” she said.

Earlier reports said police are checking whether the bullet had been fired during a fight between two rival street gangs.

Marivic called on the gunman to listen to his conscience and surrender to the police.

Meanwhile, Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri appealed to Kerth’s neighbors to help authorities identify the person who fired the bullet that hit Kerth “to avoid a repeat” of the incident.

He said he has already ordered the city police, headed by Senior Superintendent Rimas Calixto, to conduct a thorough investigation of the case.