2-year-old boy hit by stray bullet in Digos City

DIGOS CITY, Philippines — A two-year-old boy here ended up in a hospital after a wayward bullet hit him on the left hand as residents here welcomed the New Year 12 a.m. Wednesday, the police said Thursday.

Senior Superintendent Ronaldo Llanera, Davao del Sur police director, said the victim was tagged along by his father, who was watching the fireworks display near their home in Barangay (village) Aplaya around 12 midnight on Dec. 31 when he was hit by the bullet.

The boy suddenly cried and when his father checked, he found the injury on the boy’s left hand.

Doctors at the hospital where the boy was rushed to found out that the wound was caused by a bullet.

The victim has been recuperating, he said.

“We still don’t know the gun’s caliber or who might have fired it. We are calling on possible witnesses to step forward or the suspect to just yield,” Llanera said.

In North Cotabato, at least 49 cases of firecracker-related injuries in December had been reported in at least seven towns, the provincial health office there said.

Dr. Eva Rabaya, Integrated Provincial Health Officer, said a large number of the victims was children.

The town of Mlang had the most number of firecracker injuries with 17 cases, followed by the town of Midsayap with 12 cases; Alamada, two; Arakan, one and Kidapawan City, two, she said.

“The data covered incidents from December 25 to the 1st day of January,” Rabaya said.

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