Ilocos Sur offers reward to find shooter whose stray bullet killed a baby

The provincial government of Ilocos Sur has offered a P250,000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest of whoever fired a gun and killed a three-month old baby on New Year's eve, Governor Ryan Singson said Thursday.

 

In a statement posted on the province's website, Singson said the entire province condemned the death of the Von Alexander Llagas of Barangay Anonang Mayor, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur “who was a victim of a senseless killing and an irresponsibile gun owner.”

 

“We can not tolerate this inhumane act, and we stand firm towards the protection and security of our people be it inside or outside our homes. We are a peace-loving province and this barbaric act does not have a place in us. Let us join hands towards the solution of this case and let peace and order prevail,” he said.

 

“The Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur is offering a reward of P250,000.00 to those who could identify or give a clue to the culprit who cut short a child's life and future and let justice prevail,” Singson added.

 

Llagas'father, Valeriano Antero, hopes his son will get justice soon.

 

“Ang hiling ko lang ay makuha ng anak ko ang katarungan,” he said.

 

In a phone interview with GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas" on Thursday, Police Superintendent Jemar Modequillo, Ilocos Sur police provincial director, said they do not have a lead yet on who pulled the trigger but they are already looking at gun owners who live nearby.

 

“Pinakuha na natin kung sino yung mga taong nakatira within the vicinity. We started already our initial action, yung mga gun holders ay ininvite na po natin yan for comparison, vinerify na natin. Meron po tayong mga in service na personnel doon at pinapa-undergo na po natin for paraffin test,” he said.

 

He added a trajectory expert from the Pangasinan crime laboratory is now on her way to Ilocos Sur to help in the investigation.

 

“Nag-invite tayo ng taga-crime lab who is more familiar with trajectory. She is coming now from...Pangasinan to look into that talaga,” he said.

 

He said based on their initial investigation, the perpetrator was likely within the 100-meter radius from the house of the victim.

 

“Nung nakita ko yung tama mula dun sa yero hanggang dun sa kinalalagyan ng bata na masyadong tusok na tusok, meaning malapit lang din yung nagpapaputok. Within the neighborhood lang yan. Yun nga ang sinasabi ko kahapon sa maybahay kasi nakausap natin, hindi ito lalayo ng 100-meter distance,” Modequillo said. — Amita Legaspi/JDS, GMA News