Stray bullet narrowly misses infants in Manila hospital nursery

MANILA, Philippines — “Fortunately lucky” was how a doctor described the newborn babies in the pediatric ward of Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, after a stray bullet went through the second floor roof of the building early Tuesday, New Year’s day.

Dr. Romeo Bituin, head of the hospital Health Emergency Management Staff reported the incident at the Manila Police District General Assignment Section Tuesday afternoon.

Bituin said that at around 12:20 a.m. on Tuesday, at the height of the New Year revelry, one of the mothers guarding their babies saw a bullet pierce through the roof, hit an iron rail of a baby’s crib and bounced on the wall before it landed on the floor.

The pediatric ward is located on the second floor of the hospital, according to Bituin.

He explained that no one was hurt in the incident, but it caused tension and anxiety among the mothers and the staff in the hospital.

“We want to submit for examination the bullet to determine its origin,’’ Bituin said.

The hospital is located in Sta. Cruz, Manila and is inside the sprawling Manila City Jail compound and bounded on the right by the Sta. Cruz police station, according to Bituin.

SPO1 James Poso of the MPD-General Assignment Section, the bullet would be submitted to forensic investigation to determine its origin.