The 14-year-old gunshot victim who survived a bullet in the head said the 11-year-old boy who shot him was given the gun “as a gift” by the boy’s father.
The revelation by 14-year-old Mark Rey Abano at his hospital bed in the Cebu City Medical Center came as Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama assured that the city would pay for all hospital expenses of the victim.
Speaking slowly in between gasps, Mark Rey said that a few minutes before he was shot in the billiard hall in barangay Pasil, he saw the suspect’s father give the child the weapon “as his birthday gift.”
“Gikan to (gun) sa iya papa, regalo lagi,” (It came from his father. It was gift), Mark Rey told reporters.
He was interviewed with the consent of his aunt-guardian and hospital officials.
Mark recounted that the 11-year-old boy who shot him first pulled the trigger twice, pointing the weapon to two other playmates, but it did not go off.
It was on the third attempt that the caliber .38 compact revolver went off, hitting Mark Rey in the head as he bent over to pick up a P1 coin.
The bullet hit the right top portion of his head and left an exit wound.
“Pirmiro wala mobuto, nibuto na sa pagpusil sa ako”, said Mark Rey.
When asked if he could forgive the child shooter, who’s a schoolmate, Mark said no.
“Di ko makapasaylo, sakit kaayo” (I can’t forgive him. It’s so painful).
The left side of Mark’s body is still paralyzed and prospects of him regaining full motor functions is not clear.
Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the father of the child shooter is still at large and that he has a pending warrant of arrest for a case of illegal drugs.
The 11-year-old boy’s mother, who turned over her son and the revolver after Saturday’s incident, denied that her husband owns the gun.
She said her son just found the gun in the billiard hall. She also said she wasn’t aware of any drug cases her spouse is facing.
“Ing-ana man jud na, pangitaan nalang jud na nila og bati,” (That’s expected. People are now trying to find fault in us), she added.
The mother said her husband left the city to look for livelihood and that she doesn’t know his whereabouts.
The CCPO is studying what charges to file against the father of the 11-year-old shooter.
The boy suspect, who was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare, was released to the custody of his grandmother and is due for counselling by social workers. Under the Juvenile Justice Law, young offenders aged 15 and below have no criminal liability and should be supervise by the State.
Buenafe said the statement of the victim carries much weight as they study what court actions to file since minor offenders still have civil liability for breaking the law, through their parents.
Financial aid
Meanwhile, help is on the way for Mark Rey’s medical expenses and even to the 11-year-old shooter.
Cebu City Mayor Micheal Rama said yesterday that the city government through its Champ program would take care of the hospital bills and medicine expenses of Mark.
Mark Rey’s hospital bills have piled up to at least P17, 000.
Mayor Rama initially provided the family with a wheel chair.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 7 (DSWD 7) said they will initially give P5,000 to the child victim and provide psychosocial counselling to the 11-year-old shooter.
“The shooter is also suffering from trauma. The pressure of being blamed is focused on him. We can try to help,” said Jaybee Binghay, DSWD 7 information officer.
Binghay said the office will help get a P25,000 assistance for the shooting victim from Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña.
The Pasil Barangay Council passed a resolution yesterday to raise funds and provide P10,000 as financial aid to the 14-year-old shooting victim./with reports from Rhea Ruth V. Rosell, Jessa J. Agua and Edison delos Santos