A man is now in police custody facing illegal firearms charges after he accidentally shot himself and investigators discovered the gun he carried had no license, in an incident in Barangay San Agustin, Malabon City.
Authorities said the man had presented himself as protection against suspected motorcycle thieves operating in the area. By his own account, the weapon discharged while he was handling it. “Nilalagyan ko lang siya ng bala, tapos hindi kasiya. Napukpok ko, tapos pumutok. Paggising ko po, nasa ambulansiya na ako. Lesson learned sa akin ‘to. Perhuwisyo talaga,” the suspect said.
The shooting happened last Saturday while the man was drinking with former co-workers at a bar, according to a report by GMA’s Unang Balita on Wednesday. Footage showed him with his left hand bandaged and bloodstains still visible on his clothing.
Barangay personnel were already in the vicinity at the time after a resident asked them to keep watch over reported thieves lurking nearby. The gunshot caught them off guard. “Naalarma kami, akala namin may pumutok na gulong, ganiyan,” said Joselito Dela Cruz, a BPSO of Barangay San Agustin, Malabon.
The man sustained wounds to his left hand and leg and received initial treatment from the Malabon DRRMO. When questioned afterward, he could produce no paperwork for the weapon. “Nung tinanong nila ‘yung nasugatan kung may kaukulang dokumento o lisensiya siya ng baril, wala siyang maipakita. Doon na siya tuluyang inaresto ng mga pulis,” said Police Master Sergeant Michael Oben, an investigator with the Malabon City Police.
He is now detained at the Malabon City Police Station, where he faces a complaint for illegal possession of firearms.
