3 cops arrested for indiscriminate gun firing

MANILA, Philippines—Keeping its promise to go after those who fire their guns indiscriminately in welcoming the New Year, the Philippine National Police announced Tuesday that three policemen have been arrested for illegal discharge of their firearms.

Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP public information office chief, said at least 24 persons had also been arrested for selling illegal firecrackers since Dec. 16.

He said police recorded seven cases of indiscriminate firing in different parts of the country while at least 12 persons were reported hit by stray bullets.

A policeman in Western Visayas was arrested by his colleagues after he was suspected of firing the shot that hit a victim of a stray bullet, Sindac said.

He said two other PNP personnel were being held in Eastern Visayas and the Bicol region for indiscriminate firing.

“They were charged with appropriate administrative and criminal cases. If found guilty, they would be dismissed from the service,” Sindac told the Inquirer in a telephone interview.

He said police also recorded two fires triggered by firecrackers.

Some P1.26 million worth of illegal firecrackers has been seized in several police operations, he added.

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