The parents of a 17-year-old Korean national who allegedly committed suicide at a firing range in Dauis, Bohol last week have requested a copy of the CCTV footage of the incident.
The parents, who arrived in the Philippines on Monday, met with Dauis Mayor Roman Bullen and representatives of the Korean consulate office at Holy Name Funeral Homes on Tuesday.
Mayor Bullen said he felt sorry for the parents, who were devastated by the loss of their son. He said the father even tried to enter the coffin when he saw his son’s body.
The Korean teenager, whose name was withheld, was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head at the Sumaylo firing range on February 7, 2024.
He had gone to the firing range alone to practice shooting and used up three 45-caliber magazines before taking a break for lunch. He returned to the firing range at around 2 p.m. and reportedly shot himself.
Mayor Bullen said the parents and the Korean embassy wanted to see the CCTV footage to verify what really happened.
He said the firing range, which is owned by former mayor and current Vice Mayor Miriam Sumaylo, had a CCTV camera installed but he did not know if it was working or not.
He also said the firing range had no permit from the municipal government and no accreditation from the Philippine National Police (PNP). He said he had ordered the closure of the firing range pending an investigation.
Mayor Bullen said he had many questions about the incident that needed to be answered. He wondered why the Korean teenager was allowed to enter the firing range without being a member of the gun club, especially since he was a minor.
He also questioned why the Korean teenager had no one to supervise him during his practice, except for a “bullet picker” who was not a professional gun handler.
He also expressed his confusion as to why the chief of police in Dauis did not inform him about the incident right away. He said he only learned about it the next morning from the media.
The Dauis police are still investigating the case and have not ruled out foul play.
They are also waiting for the results of the autopsy and the ballistic examination of the gun and the bullet.