A POST of a man shot in his stomach went viral on social media for the past few days after the bullets of an improvised shotgun only caused him bruises.
Netizens shared the video showing the stomach of an 18-year-old man, known as alias Eric, from Sitio Lagwasan, Barangay Demoloc, Malita, that only sustained minor injuries from the bullets.
A netizen commented that the young man must have an amulet (habak), which is also believed by some commenters who think that the ancient traditions of the mountains are still alive.
"Naa to'y habak oi, sa bukid daghan ni, taga bukid pod ko, tuo gyod kog mga habak [He must have an amulet, there are lot of amulets in the mountains. I am also from the mountains, (that’s why) I believe in amulets]," a netizen commented.
According to the report from the Malita Municipal Police Station, on June 28, the victim had a drinking spree with the suspect, Eric Pagalangan Lumbaranan, 34.
Around 2 a.m. of the next day, both were drunk and had a heated argument for an undisclosed reason. This resulted in the suspect shooting the victim with an improvised shotgun.
The suspect shot the victim several times in the stomach, but the 18-year-old's stomach seemed to be made of steel that the bullets did not penetrate and only caused bruises.
The suspect quickly ran and hid, but through a hot pursuit operation by the Malita Police, he was caught while the victim was being treated for gunshot wounds at the hospital.