Currently recuperating and in stable condition at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) here, a 55-year-old woman is lucky to be alive after surviving a gunshot to the face allegedly fired by her neighbor.
The incident happened on Wednesday, July 29, at about 7 p.m. The victim was standing outside her home in Purok Demokrasya, Barangay Salawagan in Quezon, Bukidnon, simply waiting for her husband to arrive.
The routine evening took a sudden, bloody turn when a male neighbor, accompanied by an unidentified suspect, approached her. The suspect drew a weapon and fired a single shot, striking the victim directly in her left cheek.
Following the attack, the perpetrators immediately fled the scene aboard a white XTZ motorcycle, heading south toward the interior village of Barangay San Roque.
Lt. Col. Erwin R. Naelga, Chief of Quezon MPS, said that a pursuit operation was launched against the suspects.
Crime scene operatives discovered a single-fired cartridge case from a caliber .45 pistol.
Despite the traumatic injury, the unnamed victim remained conscious. She was initially rushed to the Quezon Health Infirmary Hospital for emergency medication before being transferred to NMMC in Cagayan de Oro City for specialized care.
The Bukidnon police had activated Oplan Shield to arrest the suspects.
Col. Oliver Navales, Bukidnon Police Provincial Office commander, ordered a thorough investigation to ensure the immediate arrest of the culprits