By CESAR JOLITO III

A 32-year-old father was arrested after his six-year-old daughter was fatally shot in what authorities described as an accidental firing incident.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Randy,” a resident of Barangay San Isidro in Negros Occidental’s Calatrava town.

Initial investigation revealed that “Randy” was having a drinking session at his temporary residence at Hacienda Paul Chang in Victorias City’s Barangay 10 on Saturday afternoon, August 30, when he accidentally pulled the trigger of an unidentified caliber firearm.

The shot struck his daughter, alias “Regine,” who was nearby at the time of the incident.

She was rushed to the Abelardo and Remedios Bantug Memorial Hospital in Victorias after sustaining a gunshot wound to the left side of her face but was declared dead on arrival by attending physician Dr. Sobritodo.

Authorities received the report from the hospital at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and immediately dispatched personnel to the area.

“Randy” was arrested on the spot and is now under the custody of the Victorias City Component Police Station.

He will be facing parricide charges under Section 5 of Republic Act 7659.

Police said the incident was accidental, but the suspect remains detained while the investigation continues./CJ, WDJ