PNP: 2019 New Year festivities generally safe, peaceful

Filipinos welcomed the New Year safely and peacefully, with incidents of firecracker injuries, illegal discharge of firearms and stray bullets all down by at least 80 percent, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Tuesday.

Albayalde said that there was only one incident of stray bullet reported, which caused a slight injury to one person in Cagayan De Oro City, while injuries due to firecrackers decreased by 80 percent to 36 cases from 188 in 2017.

Incidents of illegal discharge of firearms, however, increased from seven cases in 2017 to 26 cases involving 23 individuals this year. Of the 23, seven are policemen.

“The overall nationwide celebration of the Holiday Season for 2018 was generally safer and more peaceful compared to the previous year. The December 31 New Year’s Eve revelry alone was resoundingly safer compared to 2017,” Albayalde said in a statement.

“These positive developments could be attributed to our early preparations and consistent implementation of various measures,” Albayalde added.

The PNP chief was referring to: Security and Safety Plan: Ligtas Paskuhan 2018; implementation of the President’s Memorandum Orders 28 and 31; the PNP's close coordination with relevant government agencies such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health and the different LGUs nationwide; the rainy season which kept most citizens inside their homes; and the active support and cooperation of the general public.

Albayalde, however, stressed that the work does not stop there.

“The PNP will never rest on its laurels. We will once again buckle down to work as we deal with other peace and security challenges facing our country and as we prepare to ensure free, honest, peaceful and credible plebiscite and mid-term elections this January and May of this year,” Albayalde added. — Llanesca T. Panti/BM, GMA News