A dozen persons hit by stray bullets during Christmas, New Year revelries

HAZY IN METRO Thick smog is observed in parts of Metro Manila (top) on Monday, the first day of 2024, following New Year’s Eve revelry in the capital region. (Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE AND RICHARD A. REYES)

MANILA, Philippines — Twelve (12) people sustained injuries due to stray bullets during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

This report came from Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo also clarified their earlier report of a death in Mariveles, Bataan, supposedly due to a stray bullet, turned out to be a case of fatal shooting.

She said this incident reduced the total number of injuries from stray bullet from 14 to 13.

Twelve persons were injured while one was almost hit by a bullet.

Fajardo said four of the events occurred in Metro Manila.

Two incidents each happened in Central Luzon and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Davao region and Cordillera reported one incident each.

While 12 cases involving stray bullets were reported in 2023 during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the same number was also recorded in 2022.

11 was the tally in 2021.