PRIEST HIT BY A BULLET

A priest was hit by a bullet on the left of his back as the owner-type vehicle he was riding on with two companions passed through an unpopulated area in barangay Balaring in Boac. The incident happened last Friday, Oct 23 at around 11:00 pm.

Rev. Father Sherwin Apostol, parish priest of Balanacan and a native of Dampulan, Torrijos was immediately rushed to the provincial hospital by other priest companions who shortly found the parked vehicle with the wounded victim. The priests, including Apostol, were also on their way home from a regional basketball tournament, “Soltare Cup”* hosted by the Diocese of Boac.

Police Senior Superintendent Danilo Estapon, Marinduque Provincial Director, today belied initial reports that the incident was a case of “ambush by several armed men” as reported yesterday by a Manila-based newspaper. Estapon said a small bullet, the size of a .22 caliber bullet was still embedded in the priest’s back.

The victim who remained conscious throughout the incident has been transferred to Mt. Carmel Hospital in Lucena City where he is undergoing further treatment. Apostol has been declared out of danger.

Meanwhile, provincial administrator Atty. Allan Velasco requested the National Bureau of Investigation through NBI director Nestor M. Mantaring to immediately conduct a thorough investigation on the incident.


(*a member of the laity clarified that the "Soltare Cup" ended on Oct. 22 and that the basketball tournament participated in by the priests in Cawit on the day of the incident, Oct 23, was related to the Barangay Fiesta of Cawit with parish priests playing against a barangay-based basketball team.) eo/10.27.09)