ILIGAN City — Relatives of a 14-year-old girl who was killed after being hit by a stray bullet during a police response in Zone 3, Panul-iran, Barangay Abuno on Nov. 18, have decided not to file a case against the responding officers.
The family believes the shooting was accidental and occurred while police were defending themselves from an aggressive suspect armed with a bolo and scythe, identified as 54-year-old Jacinto Cabaluna.
The victim was Cabaluna’s niece. The teenager’s sister shared that the responding officer, despite suffering abrasions on his right forearm, carried the girl to a vehicle and rushed her to the hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.
The family’s only request is for the authorities to ensure proper burial arrangements for the girl.
Iligan City Police Office (ICPO) spokesperson, Police Maj. Zandrex Panolong, said their office has already given an initial amount of P100,000 in financial and burial assistance to the girl’s family, and P65,000 from the regional office for additional expenses.
Authorities assured the family that arrangements are underway to inter the girl at Golden Haven, as requested.
Assistance was also extended to the suspect’s family for the wake.
