‘Stray bullet’ victim: I was actually shot

CEBU, Philippines – The first reported stray bullet incident in Cebu City during New Year revelry turned out to be a frustrated murder case after the victim said she was actually shot by the brother of her live-in partner.

Jovelyn Pocot of Barangay Mabini, who was in critical condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to the neck, said she was shot by Isabelo Bayon, Jr., her spouse’s brother, out of drunkenness.

Pocot is now recuperating at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where police officers interviewed her about the supposed stray bullet case.

Senior Police Officer 2 Ruth Violango, Homicide Section investigator, said Bayon was allegedly very drunk when he fired his gun and hit Pocot.

Violango said when they received information of a stray bullet incident, they immediately responded to the area.

On the first day of the investigation, she said they did not get any other information even from Pocot’s live-in partner.

On the second day, they received reports from the neighbors of the victim that she was not hit by a stray bullet, but was actually shot by Bayon.

The police then went to Pocot to verify the report after learning that she was already responsive.

Violango said the victim still could not talk but answered their questions by nodding and shaking her head.

According to the victim, Violango said, at 12 a.m. of January 1, she met the suspect, who was very drunk, along the road. All of a sudden, she fell to the ground due to a gunshot wound to the neck.

Policemen conducted hot pursuit operation against the suspect, but he was already nowhere to be found.

On Monday night, Violango said, the suspect showed up at their office saying he wanted to clear his name.

With this, Violango said it was easier for them to arrest the suspect and presented him to the victim, who then positively identified him as the one who shot her.

The police investigator said it was possible that what happened was only an accident brought about by Bayon’s drunkenness since the victim and the suspect allegedly do not have any conflict with each other.

Violango said if the victim or her relatives will not file charges against the suspect, the police will stand as the complainant of the case and will file charges for frustrated murder.

The police have not confiscated the firearm used by the suspect but they found from the crime scene four empty shells of a cal. 45 pistol and another from a cal. 38 revolver which are now subject for ballistic examination.

Violango said they suspect Bayon’s gun is not licensed since he refused to show it to the police.

Following this development, stray bullet incidents in the city during the New Year revelry are now down to three. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/NSA (FREEMAN)