NGO seeks justice for 6-year-old stray bullet victim
MANILA, Philippines — A non-profit organization on Tuesday called for justice for the death of a 6-year-old boy who was hit by a stray bullet from an alleged shootout between a cop and a drug suspect.
The Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) said in a statement that it is strongly condemning the killing of Grade 1 pupil Gian Habal and “the worsening human rights violations specifically on children which are committed by state perpetrators.”
Habal was playing outside his house on Mabini Street in Camarin, Caloocan when a stray bullet hit him in the forehead. The boy was brought to the Caloocan City North Medical Center but was pronounced dead 20 minutes later.
Meanwhile, his 65-year-old grandmother, Elsa Montañez, was shot in the foot after she tried to stop the policeman, Cpl. Rocky delos Reyes, from getting away.
READ: Boy killed in ‘shootout’ between cop, drug suspect
“CRC calls for Justice for Gian and extends its condolences to the family of Gian Habal,” the statement read, adding that Delos Reyes must also face charges.
Delos Reyes, who is assigned to the Caloocan Central Police Station’s Administration Holding Unit, later surrendered. The cop would be facing charges including homicide and serious physical injury.
He claimed that he was on his way home when he spotted a drug suspect named “Botchok,” which led to the exchange of shots that killed Habal and wounded his grandmother. /ee
