PDEA agent ‘shoots’, injures boy

An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) is accused of shooting and injuring a 12-year-old boy in barangay Tinago, Cebu City.

IO1 Leo Vincent Ortega Morales claimed it was an accidental shooting. He surrendered to the police after the incident and was detained at the Waterfront police station.

The boy, who was wounded in the left knee, was treated at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

Police are still waiting for the decision of the boy’s parents on whether they’ll file charges or not.

A blotter report at the homicide section of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) revealed that Morales confronted the boy in sitio Calera on suspicion that he was a thief.

Morales allegedly drew  a .9mm pistol during the confrontation.

The PDEA-7 agent cocked the gun before it went off, the report said.

Sitio Calera was celebrating its fiesta during the incident.

Witnesses told police that the boy was in the area asking money from fiesta-goers.

Police said it was Morales who brought the boy to the CCMC before he surrendered to the police.

The bullet also hit the rear windshield of a taxi which happened to pass by in the area when the shooting occurred.

Jessie Tabanao, PDEA-7 assistant information officer, said the agency will conduct an investigation against Morales.

Tabanao said Morales and his fellow agents were in the area conducting a surveillance operation.

Tabanao said Morales could not recall if the bullet directly hit the boy or if it hit the ground first before it ricocheted and hit the victim.