Friday, October 12, 2007 Siblings play with pa’s gun; bullet hits, wounds boy, 4
TWO children playing with their father’s gun were wounded when it accidentally went off.
Siblings Rogelyn, 5, and Robert Jay Martinez, 4, were alone inside their house in Barangay Sabang, Danao City Wednesday afternoon.
The two were playing inside the house when Rogelyn found a shoebox.
Inside one of the shoes, she found a .38 revolver loaded with three bullets.
Seeing the gun, she and her brother began toying with the gun. Suddenly, it exploded, which wounded her left hand.
The bullet also hit her brother on the right side of his chest. The bullet went through the boy’s back.
They were rushed to the Danao City District Hospital but doctors recommended they be transferred to Cebu City.
The two are now confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).
Responding police officers from the Danao City Police Station led by SPO1 Rodrigo Roble recovered the .38 revolver, with two live bullets and an empty shell inside its cylinder.
Police are trying to determine if the gun was licensed to their father Ramil, a security guard.
Supt. Larson Dechino, Danao City police chief, said they may file a case of reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries against Ramil.
He said there were reports that the firearm was not his service gun and that it was merely pawned to him.
Dechino said that if they prove the gun was not covered by the necessary permits, Ramil will also face another case of illegal possession of firearm.
Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale, who heads the committee on women, family and children, said she will send her staff today to see the parents and ask if Rogelyn should undergo counseling.
Magpale said she will coordinate with Dr. Marian Naomi Poca of the Pink Room of VSMMC for the counseling.
“Our concern now is the psychological effect of the incident on the child,” she said.
Aside from being active on the protection of women and children, Magpale also represents the fifth district of Cebu where Danao City belongs. (MEA/MBG)
