PNP: 23 indiscriminate firing cases; 5 cops, 1 Army man suspect

The Philippine National Police has recorded 23 incidents of indiscriminate firing during the holiday revelries with at least five policemen and a military personnel as suspects.

As of Jan. 2, at least six members of the government’s security forces have illegally used their firearms at the height of the New Year’s Eve merrymaking despite PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s strict orders against indiscriminate firing during the holidays.

Among those the police identified were PO1 Daniel Castillo of Raxabago Police Station in Manila, PO1 Ronel Pantig, assigned in Pasig City Police Station, and CPL Lovelyson Cutas, member of the Philippine Marines.

Castillo is now detained at Manila Police District, Cutas is detained Taguig City Police Station while Pantig is still at large.

In a press conference at Camp Crame on Monday, Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, PNP’s deputy chief for operations, said the police have monitored at least 23 incidents of indiscriminate firing.

Apolinario said that out of 23 incidents, 19 individuals, including the six police and military personnel, have been arrested.

Last December, the PNP leadership decided to forego the annual muzzle-taping tradition for the service firearms of policemen to prevent indiscriminate firing.

The PNP said this reflects the organization’s trust among the 160,000 members of the police force that they will use their guns responsibly.

Meanwhile, the Metro Manila police noted a significant decrease in the cases of indiscriminate firing and stray bullet incidents in the capital region.

Police Director Oscar Albayalde, National Capital Region Police Office chief, said stray bullet incidents in the Metro had lowered to three as compared to fourteen last year.

For indiscriminate firing, the NCRPO had recorded three compared to four incidents last year.

In Malabon City, 15-year-old Emmelyn Villanueva is in critical condition after she was reportedly hit by a stray bullet in the head. But the police claim Villanueva was a victim of a shooting incident that happened while watching a fireworks display.

Police promised Villanueva’s family that justice will be served to the victim.

“We assure the family of Emmelyn Villanueva that the PNP is doing its best to give justice to the family of Emmelyn. The Northern Police District is pursuing the case and investigating this properly,” Apolinario said.