A four-year-old boy was killed by a stray bullet as he played outside his home during a police drugs raid.

Skyler Abatayo had been playing with friends in Sitio Bato district, Cebu City, the Philippines, when four cops broke into a home being used as meth den.

The suspects opened fire on police – sparking a frantic shootout as cops traded shots with a hail of bullets.

Skyler Abatayo had been playing with friends when he was caught in the cross fire during a police drugs raid in the Philippines. (ViralPress)

As dozens of kids outside fled screaming, Skyler was hit by a stray bullet. He was rushed to hospital but later pronounced dead following the incident at 2pm yesterday afternoon.


The lad’s devastated mother said: ‘I miss him so much. I just can’t let him go like this. I will miss him so much.



‘This is not justice. I pray that he can be strong whatever suffering he is going through now.’

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Police said that the youngster was hit by a bullet from one of the suspects and not a police round.

They said officers raided the home in ‘good faith’ and returned fire to ‘protect themselves’.

They said that all four of the alleged drug users, who had been reported for smoking cannabis and ‘shabu’ methamphetamine, fled the scene and had not been traced.

Cebu City Station 5 Commander Senior Inspector John Escober said: ‘Two police officers went forwards to the property and two held back outside.

Skyler Abatayo was just four-years-old when he died. (Picture: ViralPress)

‘The suspects drew their guns and a shootout ensued.

‘No suspects were killed or captured, as they were able to quickly flee from the scene.’

Inspector John Escober said that residents alerted them to the injured youngster who had been hit by a bullet.

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He added: ‘Police identified the boy as Skyler Abatayo and he was taken to hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.’

Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmena said he had sat down with Skyler’s heartbroken family and investigators who are now hunting the suspects.

He added: ‘Colonel Garma will handle the investigation. My role is purely humanitarian. I have assured the family that all expenses related to the wake and burial will be taken care of.

‘We can even look for funding for family members who want to visit from out of town. It is the least we can do.

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