Teen hit, killed by stray bullet in barangay fiesta

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An 18-year-old boy passed away in a private hospital here last Monday two days after he figured in a fiesta shooting in Barangay Alimango, Escalante City, Negros Occidental on July 1.

Police Major John Ganzon, city police chief, said they were informed by the family of Jeban Sayon of the said village that he succumbed to complications from a gunshot wound in his abdomen.

Sayon was attending a barangay fiesta when 40-year-old Romualdo Abarido of Barangay Washington shot a policeman and another civilian following a misunderstanding with a local court sheriff.

Abarido, who is a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu), figured in a commotion with the sheriff twice due to jealousy over a girl that the latter met in the fiesta, Ganzon said.

The suspect alleged that the girl was his paramour or girlfriend.

“Tuman gid siguro nga pagpangimon, amo to natiruhan niya ang pulis na nag responde,” Ganzon said.

Police Master Sergeant Teofesto Aburido, who was detailed to secure the fiesta, responded to the commotion. But, he was shot by Abarido, who was reportedly drunk at that time, Ganzon said.

Aburido suffered a lone gunshot wound in the chest with an exit wound on his lower back and is still confined in a private hospital here. He is stable, according to the police chief.

Jay-r Garganera, 34, of Toboso town, was also hit by a stray bullet in his left ankle and is about to be discharged from the hospital, according to Ganzon.

Ganzon said that charges for homicide, frustrated homicide, and serious physical injuries were already filed against Abarido last Monday.

Abarido was turned over by the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) to the police on Saturday night, along with his .45 caliber firearm allegedly used in the incident.