By KATE JAVIER
A fight broke out between two men on New Year’s Eve in Caloocan City, escalating into a shootout that sent two children in the hospital, one in critical condition.
One of the protagonists suffered knife and gunshot wounds while the other was mauled by residents and landed behind bars.
Joven Earl Gaces, a 10-year-old Grade 5 student, and his companion Princess Denise Cruza, 10, were watching the community-organized fireworks display in Barangay 35, Maypajo when they were hit by stray bullets.
Based on witness accounts and their position at the time of the shootout, the bullets most likely came from the Glock 17 fired by Isagani Ancheta, a 38-year-old vendor in Divisoria.
PO1 Deojoe Dador, however, said they will still examine the slugs recovered from the victims’ bodies to determine the culprit.
Ancheta told police that he was walking to a store to buy something when his path was blocked by Gil Galapuz, 27, who he claimed was reeking of liquor.
Without any reason, Galapuz tried to strangle him, Ancheta said prompting him to pull out his knife and gun.
A witness, who asked not to be named, said Galapuz, despite the knife wounds, was able to draw his weapon, triggering the shootout just before the stroke of midnight.
However, police recovered only Ancheta’s gun.
At around 12:10 a.m., the mothers of Gaces and Cruza were informed of the shooting incident and rushed to separate hospitals for emergency treatment.
Princess suffered a gunshot wound in the stomach but was in stable condition at the Tondo Medical Hospital but Joven was fighting for his life at the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital where Galapuz was also brought.
Malou, Joven’s mother, said the bullet bore through her son’s shoulder and exited in the stomach.
“He must be jailed. My son is now fighting for his life in a supposed to be a New Year’s celebration,” she wailed.
Lorna said she told Princess not to go out because they were set to pray.
“Pero babalik daw siya agad pagkatapos manood,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ancheta denied that he owns the gun, saying that he borrowed it from a certain “Joel.”
Aside from the gun with ten live ammunition and a knife, police also seized a sachet of alleged shabu from Ancheta.
Ancheta said he did not know where the drugs came from, but when asked if he uses illegal drugs, he replied: “Minsan lang.”
Two counts of frustrated homicide, attempted homicide, violations for illegal possession of illegal firearms and ammunitions, bladed weapon, and dangerous drugs will be filed against Ancheta who is now detained at the Caloocan police detention cell.