By CESAR JOLITO III

A Christmas celebration in Bacolod City’s Barangay Cabug took an alarming turn after a 38-year-old man was injured by what police believe may have been a stray bullet early Christmas morning.

The victim, identified only as alias “Joeben,” a resident of Barangay Pahanocoy, was wounded while having a drinking session with two other individuals at a garage at 2:00 a.m. on December 25.

They were celebrating Christmas when Joeben suddenly felt a sharp pain and later discovered gunshot wounds on his left thigh and left hand, police said.

The victim was immediately brought to South Bacolod General Hospital for medical treatment.

Authorities are initially treating the case as a possible stray bullet or accidental firearm discharge.

Investigators are still working to determine the source of the gunfire and the circumstances that led to the shooting.

Bacolod City Police Office spokesperson, Police Captain Andro Maapni, said they are not ruling out the possibility that the injuries were self-inflicted.

To aid the investigation, the victim and his companions have volunteered to undergo paraffin tests./CJ, WDJ