ORMOC CITY– A woman was injured after an unlicensed firearm carried by her boyfriend accidentally discharged at a beach resort on December 6, in Sitio Badiang, Brgy. Lomonon, Palompon, Leyte.
PCTP Rushty Alvarado, officer-in-charge of the Palompon Police Station, identified the suspect as alias “Bryle,” 40, married, a construction worker, and a resident of Brgy. Sabang. The victim was identified as alias “Aiza,” of legal age, single, and jobless, also from this municipality.
According to a police report submitted to the Police Regional Office-8, the incident was reported by the resort owner, alias “Oscar,” after a firearm allegedly went off within the premises. Responding officers arrived to find the victim being treated by personnel from the Palompon Emergency Rescue Team for a gunshot wound to her left leg.
Initial investigation revealed that the firearm belonged to the suspect, who is the victim’s boyfriend. Police said the weapon fired accidentally when the suspect’s sling bag—where the firearm was kept—fell from a table, causing it to discharge and hit the victim. When asked to present documents for the firearm, the suspect could not produce any, leading to his immediate arrest.
Seized from the suspect were a caliber .45 pistol marked “Colt Automatic Caliber .45,” one fired cartridge, four live rounds, a magazine, an inside holster, a black sling bag, three mobile phones, P2,191 in cash, a blue coin pouch containing a yellow plastic straw with suspected shabu, and a pair of red cargo shorts. The seized items were properly marked and inventoried in the presence of mandatory witnesses. The weight of the suspected shabu is still to be determined by RFU 8.
Police said the suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his rights in a language he understood.
Charges for violations of RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearm, Ammunition, and Explosives) and RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) have been filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. The suspect is now detained at the Palompon Municipal Police Station.
(ROBERT DEJON)
