MANILA — Philippine National Police Director-General Ronald Dela Rosa has called the efforts by the Department of Health, other government agencies, and local government units to minimize fireworks-related injuries this holiday season a “resounding success.”
Dela Rosa earlier ordered police stations aroung the country to conduct patrols from 5 p.m., Dec. 31 to 5 a.m., Jan. 1 to monitor and deter celebratory gunfire and illegal use of firecrackers. All those on administrative posts were told to join the patrols.
The PNP maintains separate statistics for cases related to celebratory gunfire and firecracker-related injuries and arrests under the “Ligtas Paskuhan 2016” campaign which covers Dec. 16, 2016 to Jan. 1, 2017.
As of 9 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2016 (Sunday), the PNP’s data from its regional offices showed one person was killed in Metro Manila while nine others from around the country were injured by stray bullets.
Illegal discharges of firearms also led to death of one person in Central Visayas and the injury of another in Calabarzon during the period.
At total of 15 people, including one policeman and one soldier, were arrested for illegal discharge of firearms while 13 others—four policemen and the rest civilians—remained at large.
Also arrested were 18 civilians for illegal possession, use or sale of firecrackers prohibited by national and local laws. Seven suspects are at large.
A total of 118 people—59 or more than half of them from Metro Manila—also suffered firecracker-related injuries during the period. SFM