MANILA, Philippines — In less than a week of monitoring, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already recorded its first case of a stray bullet injury this holiday season.
The case of a stray bullet hitting a three-year-old was reported on the day the PNP started implementing its nationwide “Iwas Paputok/Disgrasya” (Anti-Firecrackers/Accidents) program last Dec. 16.
In a press statement sent out by the PNP spokesperson, Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor on Tuesday, the victim of the stray bullet was identified as three-year-old Calsum Henio, who was hit in the upper abdomen last week in Barangay Sirawal Proper in Zamboanga del Norte.
While no one has been arrested for the stray bullet that injured the girl, elsewhere in the Philippines, the PNP on the same day was able to arrest two civilians for illegal discharge of firearms.
The suspects were identified as Willy Boca Talingting, 47, who was found to have fired repeatedly a caliber-22 Magnum in Barangay Tongonan, Kananga, Leyte; and Felix Agum Cuenca, 27, who fired his caliber-9mm pistol Llama in Sulangon, Dapitan city.
As of Tuesday morning, the PNP had monitored three incidents of illegal use and sale of firecrackers, and confiscated three of the contraband.
The PNP’s tally of such incidents will continue daily until Jan. 5, as part of their efforts for a safe Christmas season.
Two hundred personnel from the PNP headquarters and 26 members of the Special Action Force, have been deployed for Christmas patrol on Metro Manila streets, lifestyle centers, churches, and transport terminals since the start of the dawn masses on Dec. 16.
This is in addition to the local police already deployed in their respective areas.
There will also be no holiday break for the police, according to PNP deputy for operations, Director General Danilo Constantino. Starting Dec. 15, all leaves had been cancelled until January 6 to ensure that all hands are on deck.
PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez Jr. earlier issued orders for “increased police presence, focused law enforcement operations, target hardening, police community partnership and information operations” to ensure public security for the holiday season.
Marquez assured the public of increased foot and mobile patrol operations, deployment of Route Safety Marshalls, and Police Assistance Hubs in places of convergence.
Meanwhile, since Dec. 14, PNP units have started the traditional gun muzzle taping, symbolizing the police force’s campaign against the illegal discharge of firearms this holiday season. SFM