Janette Caballero, an 11-year-old Grade 4 student of H. Bautista Elementary School, was on her way to attend a religious service in Marikina City last Sunday morning when a stray bullet abruptly ended her life.

Janette was the eldest of five siblings in her family. Being the eldest, she took care of her younger brothers and sisters while her parents worked at the Materials Recovery Facility of the Marikina government.

"Sya ang nag-aalaga sa mga kapatid nya. Nagsasaing at nagtitimpla ng gatas para sa kanila," said her 32-year-old mother Virginia, noting that Janette nursed their youngest, one-year-old Carla.

Aside from being responsible and respectful, Janette was described by her mother as a "bubbly" girl. "Palagi syang nakangiti at nagpapasaya sa mga tao dito sa bahay at sa pamilya," Virginia said as she showed a picture of a smiling Janette.

She said they are now in the process of accepting the fate of their child, believing that what happened was only an accident.

"Wala naman kaming magagawa kasi aksidente naman ang nangyari," Virginia said.

Asked if the family will file a case against the person who fired the fatal bullet, Virginia said, "ipagpapasa-Diyos na lang namin..."

It was a bright Sunday morning for Janette as she walked hand in hand with her grandmother Teofila and other members of her family to attend a church service of the Dating Daan religious group in Parang, Marikina City when she suddenly fell to the ground, blood spurting from her temple.

Little did Janette know that she would become a victim of a crossfire between police and a band of six suspected robbers.

As of press time, it was not yet clear where the fatal bullet came.

Senior Insp. Jose Ogbac Jr. of the Marikina City police remained silent on the allegation that one of the policemen in pursuit of the fleeing robbery suspects was the one who accidentally shot the girl. He said they are still waiting for the Scene of the Crime report.

The incident happened on Bayan-Bayanan Avenue, corner E. Rodriguez St. in Barangay Concepcion Uno, Marikina City at around 7:15 a.m. following a call for police assistance from a concerned citizen who reported the presence of a group of men armed with deadly weapons.

Police Community Precinct (PCP) 6 immediately responded to the area and spotted six males. However, the six suspects panicked and ran in different directions. Upon reaching JP Rizal Street, one of the suspects drew a handgun of still unknown caliber and fired successively at the pursuing policemen.

The policemen returned fire. This was when Janette was hit in the head.

After the exchange of gunfire, police arrested two suspects. One of them was identified as Gerald Visconde 28, married, jobless, native of Quezon City and a resident of Guinayang San Mateo, Rizal. The other was a 15-year-old male minor, also a resident of San Mateo, Rizal.

Janette’s uncle, relatives and responding policemen immediately brought her to the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center. But she died while being treated.

Hearing the news, her mother Virginia, 32, rushed to the hospital to see her child. There she heard her little girl screaming as doctors removed the bullet from her head. She died in the afternoon of the same day.