A 1-year-old baby girl was fighting for her life at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center in Bacolod City yesterday, after she and other members of her family were ambushed in Isabela town, Negros Occidental, Tuesday.

Isabela police chief, Senior Insp. Jayson Manguilimutan, yesterday said Naira Queen Sararaña sustained a gunshot wound in the head.

Sararaña’s father, Nathaniel, 47, was shot in the hand, while her cousin, Mae-Inn Papa, 4, had a gunshot wound in her right foot. They were treated at the Ignacio Arroyo District Hospital in Isabela but were released as their injuries were not serious, Manguilimutan said.

Sararaña’s mother Melody, twin sister Natalie, and cousins Abner Jordan and Rommel Papa survived the slay attempt.

In their investigation, Police Officer 2 Roberto Ballon said the victims were onboard a tricycle on their way home in Brgy. Libas at about 8 a.m. Tuesday, when five men blocked their way and opened fire on them.

Melody told RMN-Bacolod that three of the armed men shot them from behind while two others were positioned in front of the tricycle. She also claimed that her uncle, Jovic Espares, was one of the gunmen.

However, Manguilimutan said that based on the accounts of witnesses, Espares was not around when the ambush took place, and that Melody could have only linked him to the incident as they have a misunderstanding.

Espares, upon learning that he was implicated in the crime, voluntarily submitted himself to paraffin testing, Manguilimutan added.

Witnesses also told the police that two of the suspects were seen playing basketball in a nearby court before the ambush.

ACCIDENTAL FIRING

In Bacolod City, a security guard was injured when his .38 caliber revolver service firearm accidentally fired and hit him at 12:03 a.m. yesterday.

Police Officer 2 Jared Esquilla identified the injured as Elmer Noja, 26, of the Relocation Site in Brgy. Vista Alegre, and employed by the Fil-Guard Security Agency.

Investigation showed that Noja was at the Newton New Building at downtown Bacolod, where he is detailed, when he accidentally dropped his gun and it discharged, hitting him in his buttocks.

He is now confined at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.*APN

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