MANILA, Philippines—A 13-year-old boy was injured early Sunday evening after he found himself in the middle of a pursuit between a gunman and his intended prey in Manila.
The victim, whose name is withheld on account of his minor age, of Parola Compound in Tondo, is still undergoing treatment at the Mary Johnston Hospital for a bullet wound in the thigh.
Reports from the Manila Police District Moriones, Tondo police station 2 revealed that the incident happened at around 6:10 p.m., Sunday, at the Gate 5 of the Parola Compound.
The boy was hanging out near the gate when a man ran past him. It was too late for him to duck for cover when the he saw the man's pursuer, who was firing his handgun indiscriminately.
One of the bullets hit the boy in the thigh while the two men continued their chase. Concerned bystanders immediately brought the victim to the nearest hospital.
Police investigators have not determined the caliber of the gun used and are still in the process of identifying the shooter.
It upsets me to know that we cannot walk the streets at night (or even just right after sunset) feeling safe and without the assurance that we'll get to our destinations unharmed. In a world full of violence, parents try their best to keep their children from seeing such sights, much less being involved in one.
What's more upsetting is that these two men didn't keep their arguments to themselves. They weren't even considerate enough that they could harm other people. And when one of their shots hit the 13-year old boy, they did not even bother to stop and help the child, or at least call for help. It is so immature of them to continue with their bickering even when they know that someone was already harmed by their actions. I do hope that this child be given justice.
It's fortunate that there were kind-hearted bystanders who took the boy to the hospital to get proper care. This just goes to show that for every bad, there is still good to be found.
source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20081117-172730/Boy-hurt-in-Manila-shooting
2 comments:
I share your opinion. I really hate to think that we can no longer go out for evening strolls without having to fear for our lives. What has the country, or better yet, what have we come to? There are so many problems but seriously, a boy getting caught in the corssfire? That picture is wrong no matter the POV or perspective you use.
This just shows a bad reality in the society we live in. Not only children, but everyone is at risk when these things happen. "Accidents" like this could be unavoidable, but certain precautions we take gives us a better chance of not being involved in such unfortunate incidents. Always be on guard. You never know what will happen. Lastly, I commend those who offered their time and help to bring the boy to the hospital. Something that makes me proud to be a Filipino.
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