BANGUED, Abra – Police and local officials initially offered a P100,000 reward to whoever could provide probers with the necessary information that could lead to the arrest of the unscrupulous New Year reveler who fired his gun with the stray bullet killing a Grade 4 pupil in barangay Bumagcat, Tayum here during the celebration of the New Year.
Senior Superintendent Albertlito S. Garcia, director of the Abra provincial police office, said the initial reward was made available by the Guardians for Reform, Advancement and Cooperation for Economic Development (GRACE), a non-profit and non-sectarian organization regionwide which is an advocate for peace and development.
He said probers are now scouring the vicinity of the crime scene in order to ascertain the identity of the unscrupulous and irresponsible gun holder for him to face the appropriate charges in court.
Garcia called on the suspect to have the conscience to voluntarily surrender to the authorities and answer for the crime he committed considering that the victim was an incent young girl who just wanted to welcome the coming of the new year.
Gov. Eustaquio Versamin said the reward money could be doubled in the coming weeks once the provincial peace and order council shall have convened to discuss the issue so that people will cooperate in pinpointing the identity of the suspect.
By Dexter A. See