Bystander hit by ‘stray’ bullet

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A bystander was wounded after a bullet hit him evening of Jan. 24 in Jaro, Iloilo City.

But police investigators and even the victim, 60-year-old Phytias Daymo of Barangay Cuartero, Jaro, believed that the latter was hit by a stray bullet.

According to reports, Daymo was with three other men sitting on an elevated pavement in front of the store when the incident happened.

They were facing the road with their back to the store when they heard a loud sound.

Major Eduardo Siacon, Jr., Iloilo City Police Station 3 chief, said the gunfire was heard seconds after a jeepney’s exhaust (tambucho) blew off.

At that time, a man in a hoodie jacket was buying soft drinks from the store.

It was assumed that the unidentified man got startled, drew a gun, and accidentally pulled the trigger.

The bullet might have hit Daymo, who was initially unaware that he had been shot in the knee until he felt blood dripping on his leg.

Daymo was rushed to West Visayas State University Medical Center for treatment.

Siacon said they still have no identity of the man in the store who may have shot Daymo.