Stray bullets hurt 2; man shot dead

By Mar S. Arguelles LEGAZPI CITY --- At least two persons, one of them a 5-year old boy, were hurt by stray bullets on the eve of Christmas in the two Camarines provinces in Bicol, reports reaching the Bicol regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) based here as of 6:00 a.m. Tuesday said. Hit by stray bullets were a 41-year old male from Camarines Norte and a 5-year old boy from Camarines Sur, according Jaime Guerrero, DOH Iwas Paputok coordinator. The victims were not immediately identified. He added that in separate incidents, at least 7 persons, mostly children, were hurt by ‘picolo’, a popular firecracker traditionally used during the holidays. Police Senior Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib said the police are still investigating the stray bullet incidents, particularly from where the bullets came from or who fired them. Meanwhile, a former member of Philippine army was shot dead at Sitio Ankulan, Barangay Sta. Maria in Presentation town in Camarines Sur at about noon Tuesday. The victim was identified as Ricky Corbalan who was found dead with several gunshot wounds. According to Police, Corbalan was a former member of the Philippine Army but was on AWOL, or Absent Without Leave. A certain John Paul Castor Delena, a resident nearby, was also hurt during the attack. Army Capt. Joash Pramis, 9th Army Infantry Division spokesperson, in a phone interview said they are still checking the personnel record of the victim. He said “we are still tracing what unit he [Corbalan] belonged to and the reason why he went on AWOL.” Pramis told Bicol Mail that initial background gathered revealed that the victim was employed as bodyguard by a local politician who he did not identify.