Stray bullet cases, charges filed shoot up

MANILA, Philippines—The number of stray bullet incidents and the charges filed against trigger-happy individuals have shot up, data from the Philippine National Police showed.

As of Tuesday, ‎18 persons have been filed with criminal cases for firing their guns amid the Christmas and New Year revelries nationwide.

Seven policemen, four security guards, six civilians, and a member of a law enforcement agency have been taken to police custody for illegal discharge of firearm.

The record includes two Manila policemen, and policemen in Rizal and Davao provinces.
The recent count of arrests was higher by two when the PNP arrested 16 individuals over the weekend.
Stray bullet incidents also rose to 64, with 45 persons injured and one dead in Abra province. On Sunday, the PNP recorded 61 incidents and 43 injured.

In the daily monitoring of the PNP, Metro Manila had the most number of stray bullet incidents with a total of 19 during the holiday season, spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said.

Meanwhile, in Western Visayas, 13 incidents were recorded.

The PNP listed three injuries in Ilocos Region where eight men were charged with alarm and scandal for firing an Armalite rifle and a .45 caliber pistol on New Year’s Eve.

The victims were not identified.

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