By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A one-year-old girl was killed after she was allegedly hit by a stray bullet inside her home at Purok Malunao in Cadiz City’s Barangay Caduha-an.

Police have requested not to identify the victim, who passed away while receiving treatment at a hospital in Bacolod City on Monday night, December 6.

Based on a statement given by the victim’s father, 31-year-old Jason Abayon, at around 5:00 p.m. his wife was nursing the victim when they heard a loud pop in the wall.

At the same time, the victim’s mother felt the pop hitting the victim’s head and she soon discovered that her daughter was bleeding.

The child was immediately rushed to a clinic in the neighboring town of Manapla before being referred to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, but she later succumbed to the gunshot wound.

Police Lt. Alfonso Precia, deputy police chief of Cadiz City Police Station, said 48-year-old Norman Ayan Berto surrendered to the police yesterday morning and admitted he was responsible for the stray bullet incident.

According to Precia, Berto claimed that he discharged his .45 caliber pistol, although he was able to provide an exact explanation as to why he discharged his firearm.

Precia said Berto is prepared to execute an “extra judicial confession” to take responsibility over the incident and several of his neighbors also spotted him allegedly discharging his firearm.

Police are still gathering further evidence and they are currently still trying to recover the .45 caliber pistol used by the suspect./DGB, WDJ