PNP reports zero stray bullet incidents on Christmas

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said there were no reported firing and stray bullet incidents coming from the police force and private gun owners on Saturday, Christmas Day.

“I’d like to give credits sa ating mamamayan at lalo na sa ating uniformed service that we have zero incidents in the celebration ng ating Pasko, of firing and even stray bullets. Wala tayong naitalang report from the PNP Command Center. This is such a very good thing,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Roderick Alba said during an Unang Balita interview.

(I’d like to give credits to the public and the uniformed service as the PNP Command Center has reported zero incidents of firing and stray bullets over the Christmas celebration.)

He added that PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos has earlier instructed all other chief of police and regional directors to note the names of personnel who would take breaks during the holiday season. This is to give an idea who are in possession of firearms in a particular area should there be firing occurrences.

Alba added that they have not received guidelines yet regarding the traditional taping of the muzzle of firearms to prevent stray bullet accidents during the New Year celebration.

Illegal firecrackers

Ahead of the New Year’s Eve, Alba further said that the police are on the lookout for those selling and possessing illegal firecrackers, with over 1,500 items confiscated from December 16 to 24.

“We are in fact happy kasi kahit meron tayong nahuhuli, kakaunti ito. It only shows na very cooperative ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.

(We are happy because even if we catch some who sell illegal firecrackers, there are only a few of them. This only shows that the sellers are very cooperative.)

The chief PNP earlier said they will implement the guidelines based on Executive Order (EO) No. 28 that provides for the Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices, which confines the use of firecrackers to community fireworks displays that would be supervised by a trained person licensed by the PNP.

The PNP thus issued the operational guidelines for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics to ensure a safe and peaceful holiday celebration.

Police in Divisoria also implemented a crackdown on the sale of illegal firecrackers such as piccolo.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health advised the public to use alternatives to firecrackers in celebrating the holiday season, such as making noise using other objects.

“Tututukan namin itong pinagbabawal, particularly ‘yung hindi binebenta sa firecracker zones na identified ng ating mga local government units (LGUs),” Alba said.

(We will monitor the illegal firecrackers particularly in firecracker zones identified by the LGUs.)

“Tsaka ‘yung mga overweight tulad nitong mga firecrackers na more than 1/3 teaspoon na sinasabi ng ating PNP, mga oversized na mga paputok, ‘yung mabilis mag-burn ‘yung fuse, ‘yung imported na finished products, at mixture of sulfur and phosphorus,” he added.

(We will also look for overweight firecrackers that are more than 1/3 teaspoons, the oversized, those with fuse that easily burn, imported finished products, and those with mixture of sulfur and phosphorus.)

He thus reminded that illegal sellers and those who buy from them may get jailed and have their products confiscated.

Alba also asked the LGUs to regulate the New Year parties in barangays to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infections.

“‘Yung tinitignan natin hindi lang criminality but continuous implementation of the minimum public health standards (MPHS) dahil alam natin lalo na sa National Capital Region (NCR), merong na-observe na konting pagtataas ng ating COVID-19 cases,” he said.

(What we monitor is not only criminality but also the continuous implementation of the MPHS because as we know, there has been a slight increase in the COVID-19 cases here in NCR.)

The reproduction number of the coronavirus in the NCR went up to 0.70 on December 22, then 0.85 on December 23, independent think tank OCTA Research said Sunday.

The reproduction rate refers to the number of people infected by one case. A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down. —KG, GMA News