By Dhel Nazario
Two people were injured in Pasay City after a firearm of a businessman accidentally went off right after a conciliation proceeding inside a barangay hall Monday night.
The businessman was identified as Bobby Castillo, 61, resident of P Castillo Building, C Cruz St., Barangay 147, Pasay City.
Injured were Bobby’s brother, Francisco Castillo, 58, and Naga Pangcatan, 53, police said.
Initial investigation showed that the incident occurred at around 10:16 p.m. Monday at the Barangay Hall of Barangay 147.
According to police investigators, before attending a barangay conciliation proceeding over a complaint Bobby lodged against his brother for damage to property, Bobby turned over his .45-caliber Glock pistol to Chairman Jonar Arandia.
After the proceeding, police said Arandia returned the firearm to Bobby.
When Bobby attempted to unload the gun, the gun went off with the bullet hitting the floor.
As a result, bullet fragments hit Francisco’s right leg while his companion Pangcatan sustained multiple puncture wounds on feet.
Police officers who were on beat patrol went to the area and took from Arandia the firearm, a spent shell and one magazine loaded with 12 live bullets.
Bobby was arrested and brought to Police Community Precinct 6 for documentation while the two victims were rushed to Pasay City General Hospital and are now in stable condition.
Bobby will undergo a paraffin examination and the recovered shell will be subjected to ballistic examination as part of the standard operating procedure.