Girl, 5, hurt by stray bullet

A police officer interviews a relative of a five-year-old girl who was wounded by a stray bullet when her uncle allegedly attacked her father inside their house in Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A five-year-old girl was wounded after she was hit by a stray bullet when her uncle stormed their house to attack her father at Sitio Nabilog, Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental last Saturday.

Police withheld the name of the victim who is now stable at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here.

Police Major Ellendie Rebusquillo, town police chief, said the victim was inside their house with her father when the suspect identified as Ariel Metchabe, 35, arrived allegedly armed with a firearm.

Rebusquillo said that Metchabe then allegedly shot the victim’s father, who is his cousin, but the latter was not hit. The bullet instead hit the victim in her face.

The victim’s father was able to grab the firearm from the suspect who quickly escaped.

Rebusquillo said the suspect got irked when he heard that the victim’s father allegedly accused him of stealing a fighting cock recently.

“Nakainom ni kuno ang suspect kag nag sugod sa balay ka pakaisa ya tungod sa kutso-kutso na nabati-an niya,” he added.