2 cops, 2 soldiers nabbed for indiscriminate firing

Despite repeated warnings, military and police personnel were still among those arrested for indiscriminately firing their guns during the holidays.

At least seven incidents of illegal discharge of firearms have been reported since Dec. 16 resulting in one person wounded, the Philippine National Police said on Tuesday.

Of the seven, five—two police officers, two members of the Philippine Army, and a civilian —were arrested, their guns confiscated and now face charges of illegal discharge of firearms.

Two others remain unidentified.

This year’s incidents were lower than last year’s 26 incidents of illegal discharge of firearms, which injured 10 people.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the incidents involving police officers happened in Metro Manila and Davao Region. But they did not fire their firearms to celebrate.

“One of them turned out to have a family problem. He went out of his house and fired his gun to the ground thrice,” Fajardo said. The other policeman passed by a rowdy crowd engaged in cockfighting. He reprimanded the group but was ignored, prompting him to fire his gun, she said.