PNP: Indiscriminate firing cases amid New Year revelry jumps to 27

The cases of indiscriminate discharge of firearms nationwide have increased to 27 amid the celebration of New Year 2025, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

As of 6 a.m., PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said 21 individuals were arrested in relation to the firing incidents—18 of them were civilians, one was a PNP personnel, one was a security guard, and the other one was a personnel of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Most of those arrested came from Calabarzon (9 cases), followed by the National Capital Region and Western Visayas (3 cases each); and then Northern Mindanao (2 cases).

One person was nabbed each in Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula due to indiscriminate firing.

“Maliban po sa 21 na aresto ay may pito po tayong at-large na suspects bagamat sila’y identified,” Fajardo said.

(Aside from the 21 arrested, there are still seven individuals at-large, but they have already been identified.)

Seventeen firearms were also confiscated or recovered following the incidents.

Three people were also injured due to stray bullets—one each in NCR, Central Luzon, and Zamboanga Peninsula—but Fajardo assured that they are all now “out of danger.”

“‘Yung tatlong reported injured as a result ng stray bullet ay nadala naman po ito sa hospital at nalapatan po ng lunas. So, out of danger na po sila as reported to us,” she said.

(The three persons injured due to stray bullets were brought to a hospital and were treated. So, they are now out of danger as reported to us.)

“‘Yun naman pong mga slugs na na-recover po doon sa mga lugar kung saan nakita ‘yung mga slugs at doon sa mga na-recover sa biktima ay susumiti po ito sa field units ng forensic group para sumailalim sa cross-matching,” she added.

(The slugs that were recovered in the areas and from the victims will be submitted to the field units of the forensic group for cross-matching.)

Compared to last year, Fajardo said that more cases of indiscriminate discharge of firearms were recorded this year but the number of people getting injured was less.

Aside from this, 73 individuals were also arrested in connection to illegal fireworks. A total of 1,360 cases of illegal possession, use, or sale of firecrackers were monitored so far.

Nearly 600,000 pieces of illegal firecrackers with an estimated value of P3.9 million were also seized.

As of Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) said there were 340 people who suffered injuries due to firecrackers from December 22, 2024 to January 1, 2025.

Of the 340 cases, 141 were logged between 6 a.m. of December 31, 2024 to 5:59 a.m. of January 1, 2025. This also translated to a 64% decline compared to the cases recorded on the first day of 2024.

‘Generally peaceful’

Despite these reports, Fajardo said that the New Year festivities in the country were generally peaceful.

“As of 6 a.m. ng January 1, ang report sa atin ay generally peaceful naman ‘yung naging pagsalubong sa bagong taon at wala naman tayong natanggap na report na any significant untoward incident,” she said.

(As of 6 a.m. on January 1, based on the report given to us, the welcoming of the New Year was generally peaceful as we didn’t monitor any significant untoward incident.) —RF, GMA Integrated News