AP FILE PHOTO
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The three-year-old girl from Barangay (village) Mansilingan of this city who was hit by a stray bullet in the head at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Friday was in stable condition on Sunday after undergoing surgery earlier in the morning in a Quezon City hospital.
Diane Uy underwent a two-hour surgery at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center for the removal of skull debris from the bullet that entered and exited through her head, her father Danny Uy said by phone.
Danny said his daughter was out of danger but would be closely monitored for possible infection.
Danny said they were told the surgery would cost P200,000 to P300,000 and they have sought help from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office through Bacolod City Rep. Evelio Leonardia .
He said they were also hoping to get some help from the NAIA management to help defray the cost of their daughter’s medical bills.
Diane’s 18-month-old cousin, Phil Tomas Lirazan, was killed while the boy’s mother and grandmother were injured when they were also hit by stray bullets fired by gunmen who assassinated Ukol Talumpa, the mayor of Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur, and his wife at the arrival area of the NAIA Terminal 3 past 11 a.m. Friday.
A bullet pierced the head of 18-month-old baby Phil Tomas Lirazan and killed him instantly.
Injured were the boy’s mother, Marie Ann Lirazan, 28, who was hit by a bullet in the left hand, and grandmother Amalia Lirazan, 58, who was shot in the back. They were still confined at the East Avenue Medical Hospital in Quezon City, as of Sunday, Uy said.
Danny and his wife, Amy Fe Lirazan Uy, also of Barangay Mansilingan, flew to Manila to be with their daughter.
Danny said Phil Tomas was the only child of his sister-in-law, Marie Ann, and Villamor Esto, an overseas worker.
The Lirazans and Uy’s daughter had flown to Manila from Bacolod for a Christmas vacation with relatives living in Metro Manila, Danny said.
They were at the arrival area when two motorcycle-riding killers, one in police uniform, shot dead Talumpa, his wife, Lea, and their nephew Salipudin Talumpa, 25.
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