Prosecutors link 4 to Stephanie Nicole's death

The four men linked to the death of seven-year-old stray bullet victim Stephanie Nicole Ella girl are not quite off the hook yet as they still face a preliminary investigation for reckless imprudence leading to homicide. Caloocan City prosecutors on Friday scheduled for Jan. 11 the preliminary investigation for the four for the death of Stephanie Nicole, who was struck by a bullet while watching the New Year festivities outside her Caloocan City home, radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported. Ella died Wednesday afternoon after suffering her eighth heart attack. Next Friday's proceeding aims to find if there is probable cause to pursue reckless imprudence charges against the four. But for now, the report quoted the prosecutor's office as saying the four—Army reservist Juan Agus, Feliciano Cercano, Eddie Magtuba, and Arcadio Gulmatico Jr.—may post bail for alarm and scandal. A P1,000 bail is recommended for temporary liberty when one is charged with alarm and scandal, the report said. Prosecutors earlier recommended the filing of charges of alarm and scandal against the four, instead of the charges of illegal discharge of firearms sought by Caloocan City police. Caloocan City police had pushed for negligence charges against Agus, who admitted owning the cal-.45 pistol used to fire shots during the New Year revelry but claimed three of his friends borrowed and fired his gun. But the firearm Agus submitted did not match with the slug taken from the victim's body. Despite this, police said the four are still liable for illegally using the firearm. The dzBB report also said the prosecutors rejected the police's bid to charge the four with illegal discharge of firearms, saying there was no evidence they aimed the gun at the victim. — KBK, GMA News