FORMER PBA player Eliud Poligrates was shot after refusing to give P20 to a 15-year-old boy.
The incident occurred at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Sitio Mecabaja, Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City.
Poligrates sustained a wound to the upper left shoulder.
In an interview with SunStar Cebu, Poligrates claimed that he met the minor offender ”MJ,” who hails from Sitio Panaghiusa of the said barangay, on the way after he came from his friend's house to borrow a dumbbell.
MJ reportedly asked him P20, but Poligrates declined because he had no change.
The victim said that because it was his female friend's birthday, he had stopped by her home after being asked for a drink.
However, Poligrates asserted that as they were drinking, he noticed MJ across from him staring intently and suddenly shot him without warning.
Luckily, he was not fatally hit as he managed to fall to the ground.
"Manghatag man gyud ko sa mga bata diha nga mangayo inig naa ko! Ato nga time wala koy sinsilyo nasuko siya," Poligrates said.
(I will absolutely give (money) to the kids when I have some. But at that time, I don’t have coins; he got angry).
The accused admitted to the crime and expressed regret.
He said he got angry at the victim after the latter hit him and his friend with a billiard cue.
His anger got worse after consuming a stick of marijuana.
"Nagsipok akong ulo niadtong higayuna labad kaayo mura kog na bad-shot! Usa ka stick ako natira (marijuana),” dugang sa suspek.
(I was not in my right mind at that moment, I felt like I had a bad shot after smoking a stick of marijuana).
Poligrates, though, refuted the allegations made against him. It's also untrue that he choked the suspect while playing pool.
Although he already forgave MJ, Poligrates said he will pursue the charges against him.
MJ’s friend, Edgardo Generale, 33, was also arrested by the police after the .45 pistol used in the shooting was found in his possession.
Police learned that the gun was bought by MJ from his friend in Pardo at P5,000.
Police Major Jonathan Taneo, chief of Mambaling Police Station, told SunStar Cebu that the accused is a well-known drug runner in the area. (GPL, TPT)