Kid on top of Napocor tower, shot and killed.

[omad]

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has anyone seen this footage? is this real? has life in our country become this cheap? your thoughts and comments...
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HIGH GROUND
Warning: This murder will infuriate you

By William Esposo
INQ7.net
Last updated 00:00am (Mla time) 09/25/2006

Patrick Banda was just a 12-year old boy whose mother admitted to Zyan that he suffered from epilepsy. Per Zyan’s report, whenever Patrick took his medication for epilepsy, he became hyperactive and this led him to do extraordinary acts like climbing atop the Napocor Transmission Tower in Barangay Gaya Gaya in San Jose, Del Monte, Bulacan.

At around 5:00 pm that day, Patrick went up the Napocor tower again—the fifth time that he did that. Of course, he always generated a crowd who knew that the height of the tower, easily over 50 feet, was more than enough to kill any man. The people below, including Patrick’s mother, were all frantically trying to persuade him to go down from the transmission tower but to no avail.

Napocor officials in the area became concerned about Patrick’s safety because in an hour or so darkness is expected to set in and that would increase the risk of his falling from the tower. All the risk and concern centered on Patrick’s safety. Zyan told me that his being up there in the tower posed no danger to others in the community and he can’t do anything up there to even disrupt electrical power.

Among the people gathered below the tower was Barangay Kagawad (Barrio Official) Francisco Gerona. Gerona told Zyan that Patrick was a “salot” (jinx), “pasaway” (incorrigible) and a “perwisyo” (pest) to their community. Zyan didn’t realize that Gerona’s strong feeling against Patrick was to lead to the tragic end of the 12-year old boy’s life.

Gerona disappeared from Zyan’s view and minutes later three shots rang out. According to Zyan’s report, people saw Gerona shoot Patrick Banda three times from behind a parked truck with a cal. 22 rifle, causing Patrick to fall from the tower and die.

Patrick’s fall was all caught on videotape. He was hanging desperately from a horizontal bar when he went limp, apparently from the shot, and plunged to the ground—slamming his body first on one of the iron bars. The scene was gruesome and brutal.

The sight of 12-year old Patrick losing his life under such circumstances drew simultaneous emotions of pity and rage from anyone who sees it. That was how I felt. There was absolutely no reason or justification for the murder. Not even Raul Gonzalez in his worst form and most outrageous behavior will offer a justification for that!

When Gerona was apprehended and was about to board a police vehicle, Zyan asked him on camera: “O, nagsisisi ka ba sa ginawa mo (O, are you sorry for what you did)?”

Gerona replied: “Hindi, perwisyo siya sa amin (No, he is a pest to us).”

full story
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[klavel]

that's horrible! The likes of Gerona are the real 'pest' of the society! What was he thinking??!?!? Killing a child for no sensible reason?? He even felt no remorse for doing it...

[pnoize]

This is exactly why I am against arming barangay officials. They have no sense of responsibility, no respect and no thought of safety whatsoever.

[tolstoi]

what NAPOCOR should do is to put reelings around the tower to avoid people from climbing thru it. problem solve [br]Posted on: September 25, 2006, 12:57:17_________________________________________________w ith regards to that crazy barangay official...he should have been hanged on that powerline and leave him electrocuted!

[imverydumb1]

Ibalik ang death penalty. Ngayon na.

[doce_pares]

OMG, wat was he thinking! he's shooting a kid, not a bird! dat man shud rot in prison!

[weedmeister2]

tsk, tsk, tsk... poor kid...

[baron]

I got annoyed with that barangay official when I saw the news in TV. A twelve year old kid should be spared from such abuse of power. Justice should be served to the victim and to his family.

Indeed, it should be inculcated in the minds of our public officials, whether they are barangay, local or national public officials, that they should be responsible with their actions. The power of the people is delegated to them to use it responsible, not to abuse their authority.

[d`monyita]

kamo ang salot eh sya at di ang bata!

i agree. pgma was stupid to remove the death penalty

[kyuusai]

The child must be given justice and that Gerona should be sentenced to death penalty!