Gun accident kills Enrile relative

MANILA, Philippines – It was supposed to protect him from election-related violence — but it ended up becoming the cause of his death.

Jean Marie “Boh” Ponce, a grand nephew of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, accidentally shot himself Friday, November 9, as he prepared a caliber 40 handgun for his personal protection.

Ponce, 23, was running for councilor in Santa Ana, Cagayan, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

Initial police investigation showed the gun probably had gone off when Ponce put it in its holster, thinking it had no bullets inside. The bullet hit the victim in the right temple, the Inquirer reported, quoting police authorities.

He was found dead at the living room on the second floor of a building infront of a family-owned gasoline station, the paper said.

The National Bureau of Investigation also backed the police’s findings. Foul play and suicide have been ruled out as possible reasons for the young politician’s death.

Jose Mari Ponce, the victim’s father, said the handgun was one of his son’s security measures after hearing information that there are hired killers roaming the province in connection with the polls.

He was supposedly running under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). His brother, Jean Alphonse “AJ” Ponce, is running for mayor.

They are distant relatives of Enrile, who hails from Gonzaga, Cagayan. – Rappler.com