BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The Scout Ranger killed last week in a barfight started by an accountant had a gunshot to the head, possibly caused by a gun shot at close range, a ranking policeman here said.
Joery Puerto told DNX Edmark Iwayan had seven to eight gunshot wounds on his body with one above his right brow looking like the fatal one.
Puerto, a police major, commands Station 8 that handles the probe on the To-Lips Videoke Bar fracas Wednesday last week that led to the death of Iwayan and the wounding of four others.
He pointed out to DNX the wound of Iwayan above his right eyebrow had tattooing that indicates suspected shooter Ulysses Carampatana could have pressed his gun’s barrel on Iwayan’s head before firing his gun.
Puerto, who was with the team of first responders to the crime scene, said he noted that the 9mm bullet fired into Iwayan’s head apparently did not exit his skull.
This wound had tattooing aroundcit, an indication that it was burned by the exploding gunpowder from the barrel, he said.
Powder tattooing or tattooing is caused by an intermdiate-range firing of a gun, the Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine said.
The wound is also characterized by scalloped edges.
Probers have yet to recover the gun of Carampatana, a bank accountant, who police suspect continues to be hidden by two other cohorts of his who remain at large.
Three other friends of Carampatana have surrendered to police last week.
Puerto added the forensics unit of the provincial police has yet to do a medico-legal examination on Iwayan, a decorated Scout Ranger soldier who was among those deployed by the Third Division to reinforce soldiers of the 94th Battalion in the series of gunbattles with rebels in Carabalan village, Himamaylan City.
