Sea watchman hurt in accidental firing

A SEA watchman (Bantay Dagat) was injured in an accidental fire incident in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Saturday, August 15, 2020.

Police Captain Edwin Duco, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, disclosed the incident happened around 12:05 p.m. Friday in Purok Bagong Silang in Bibilik village, Dumalinao, Zamboanga Del Sur.

Duco identified the victim as Renato Penida Maputi, Sr., 47, a Sea Watchman member of Bibilik village, who sustained a bullet wound on the left hip.

Duco said investigation showed that prior to the incident, Maputi went to the house of his sister while carrying a sling bag containing caliber .22 revolver.

Duco said that Maputi placed the sling bag on the chair beside him as he sat on another chair.

However, he said the caliber .22 revolver went off when it fell on the floor, hitting Maputi after his four-year-old nephew, who was playing at that time, accidentally dragged the sling bag.

He said the victim was immediately brought by his wife to Pagadian City Medical Center and subsequently referred to Margosatubig Regional Hospital for further treatment. (SunStar Zamboanga)