In a crackdown on dangerous behavior before New Year’s Eve, the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested ten individuals for indiscriminate firing. The arrests included seven civilians, a security guard, a police officer from the Calabarzon Region, and a Bureau of Corrections officer from the Zamboanga Peninsula, according to PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo. From December 16 to 29, the police documented 15 instances of reckless shooting and four cases of stray bullets. The majority of the indiscriminate firing incidents occurred in Calabarzon with six cases, followed by four in the National Capital Region (NCR), two in Central Visayas, and one each in Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. In Calabarzon, five civilians were apprehended for illegal gun discharge, while NCR and Central Visayas each reported one arrest. These incidents led to four injuries from illegal discharges and one injury from a stray bullet. Three of the stray bullet cases were reported in NCR, with one in Zamboanga Peninsula. PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil had previously directed all police units to focus on public safety during the New Year festivities. He emphasized the mobilization of police to ensure peace and order, and the safety of travelers returning home, through coordination with government agencies and local traffic management. Marbil also assured the public of the police’s readiness to handle firecracker-related injuries and fire incidents in cooperation with local fire protection units. He issued a strong warning against hazardous activities like burning tires and road blockages, which could impede emergency responses. Marbil stressed that such actions endanger public safety and obstruct emergency vehicles, promising strict penalties for offenders. He urged the public to celebrate the new year safely and responsibly, highlighting the risks associated with firecrackers.
Police Arrest 10 for Reckless Shooting Before New Year’s Eve
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