Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame
MANILA, Philippines — A member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and two more civilians were arrested for indiscriminate discharge of firearms during the holiday festivities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Thursday.
On Wednesday, the police reported 21 arrests in 27 cases of illegal gun discharge, with seven more suspects at large.
READ: More illegal gun firing cases in New Year 2025; total now at 27
At 6 a.m. on Jan. 2, data from the PNP added the following arrests in these regions:
- Metro Manila (National Capital Region): 1 civilian
- Cagayan Valley (Region 2): 1 AFP personnel, 1 civilian
The AFP has yet to respond to INQUIRER.net’s request for comment.
Before this, included in the tally were one PNP member each from Calabarzon (Region 4A) and Northern Mindanao (Region 10), and one Bureau of Correction personnel in Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9).
Five injuries due to the indiscriminate discharge of firearms were recorded in the following areas:
- Metro Manila (National Capital Region): 3
- Calabarzon (Region 4A): 1
- Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): 1
Police did not give details about the victims.
Further, authorities confiscated 17 firearms. It did not provide a breakdown per region.
Meanwhile, the cases of stray bullets reached 14 incidents on Jan. 2, as follows:
- Metro Manila: 6
- Zamboanga Peninsula: 3
- Cordillera Administrative Region: 1
- Central Luzon: 1
- Central Visayas: 1
- Northern Mindanao: 1
- Davao Region: 1
The latest PNP data showed eight injuries due to stray bullets in the following areas:
- Metro Manila: 2
- Zamboanga Peninsula: 2
- Cordillera Administrative Region: 1
- Central Luzon: 1
- Central Visayas: 1
- Davao Region: 1
The PNP previously warned law enforcers against using their service firearms for any celebration to welcome the New Year.
The Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 11926, prescribes “arresto mayor in its maximum period” — that is, six months — for indiscriminate discharge of firearms.