PNP: 1st stray bullet casualty, 47 firecracker injuries recorded

Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday announced the first casualty of a stray bullet incident in the holiday season and the arrest of seven suspects in eight cases of indiscriminate firing of guns and illegal discharge of firearms.

In a press statement, Dela Rosa said the PNP national operations center recorded three injuries in separate stray bullet incidents in Central Visayas and Central Mindanao as of Monday morning. Dela Rosa said a police commissioned officer died in an encounter with suspects of illegal discharge of firearms in Cebu.

The PNP chief said he was “particularly bothered” that a policeman, 32-year-old PO1 Arthur Malayo, was among the arrested suspects. Malayo, who was assigned with the Saranggani Provincial Public Safety Company, reportedly fired his gun in Barangay (village) Mutia, Zamboanga del Norte in the morning of Christmas Day.

Dela Rosa said Malayo is now undergoing summary investigation.

“The criminal act of indiscriminate firing of guns by persons in authority is the height of arrogance and indiscipline that has no place in the police service. As Chief of the PNP, I feel I no longer need to warn or remind PNP personnel from firing their guns indiscriminately because each and every PNP member is assumed to be discerning of how to properly conduct himself whether on or off duty,” Dela Rosa said.

“On the other hand, every PNP member is duty bound to take swift and decisive police action against any person who shall violate the law, more so if the offender is a fellow police officer.  PNP rules and regulations are very specific against any misconduct or breach of discipline by police personnel,” he added.

READ: Bato: ‘No mercy’ for those firing guns to ring in New Year

Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH), Dela Rosa said a total of 47 firecracker-related injuries have been recorded as of Monday, mostly involving males and with “piccolo” as the leading cause. Twenty-five of these incidents were recorded in Metro Manila, he added.

“The DOH report indicates 11 victims were just bystanders or onlookers, and 13 victims suffered eye injuries. Throughout the holiday season, the PNP will continue to wage the campaign against loose firearms, illegal discharge of firearms, and against criminal gangs and personalities in support of Project Double Barrel Alpha, with focused operations to account for high value target personalities involved in illegal drugs and eventually progressing to the Barangay Drug Clearing Strategy of the government,” he said.

“We urge the public to support and cooperate with the security protocols of the PNP. Any untoward incidents and crime situations should be reported to the police through nationwide emergency hotline 911 or through PNP social media accounts, @pnphotline for twitter or thru the official account of Philippine National Police in Facebook,” Dela Rosa added. RAM/rga