Quiet New Year: Only 1 gun-firing case reported

The case of indiscriminate firing in Metro Manila during the holiday festivities has been recorded in Navotas City on New Year’s Eve, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar.

But Eleazar said no casualty had been reported due to the incident. The suspect was arrested, and his gun was confiscated by authorities.

Except for the incident in Navotas, the NCRPO said there were no recorded stray bullet cases within an 11-day period during the holidays—from Dec. 21 last year to the first day of 2019.

Stepped-up campaign

The NCRPO had stepped up the campaign against illegal firecrackers, resulting in several cases of firecrackers being confiscated and sellers apprehended.

In Malabon, two residents from the village of Concepcion and one from the village of Tañong have surrendered their illegal firecrackers to the police community precinct on New Year’s Eve.

Mark Andrew Venturero, 32, surrendered 31 “Judas’ belt” firecrackers, while Arvy John Simms, 40, a village councilor in Concepcion, surrendered 28 rims of “Five Star” firecrackers.

On that same night, Frits John Lorenz Fresnidi, 24, of Tañong village surrendered two sets of 500-round Judas’ belt, 10 sets of 1,000-round Judas’ belt, 12 “Higad” and 2 packs of Five Star.

Police said the confiscated firecrackers would be soaked in water and destroyed.

Injured boy

On Sunday, two days before the New Year, a 12-year-old boy from Malabon suffered a minor blast injury on his forehead and left hand for using Five Star.

The victim was brought to Ospital ng Malabon to receive antitetanus treatment before he was sent home.

Police were also able to arrest the person who was selling illegal firecrackers to Malabon residents. Rose Reyes, 40, was arrested by policemen and was forced to surrender the firecrackers that she and her husband had been selling in their small retail store.