• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two minors were reported by the police to have died in incidents of accidental discharge of firearms and drowning on Thursday, in Don Salvador Benedicto and Bago City, Negros Occidental, respectively.
Initial police investigation revealed that the 3-year-old victim and his 2-year old cousin found a firearm inside a room of their residence at Purok Mangga in Barangay Bunga, Don Salvador Benedicto.
While playing with the firearm that they assumed as a toy gun, the 2-year-old accidentally fired the gun, hitting his 3-year-old playmate in the chest, according to the Don Salvador Benedicto police.
The victim was reported by the police to have been declared dead on arrival at the San Carlos Doctor’s Hospital in San Carlos City.
Meanwhile, an 11-year-old Grade 5 student was reported by the police to have been drowned on Thursday at the Maragandang River in Purok Bagasohan, Barangay Don Jorge L Araneta, Bago City, Negros Occidental.
Police investigations showed that the victim and his classmates went swimming at the Maragandang River.
While swimming, the victim proceeded to a deeper portion of the river and was carried away by the strong current.
He was declared dead on arrival at the Bago City District Hospital, according to the police.*
