12 nabbed for illegal discharge of firearms

MANILA, Philippines - Twelve persons were arrested in various parts of the country for indiscriminate firing of guns in the last 24 hours, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

This brings to 17 the number of people arrested since Dec. 16 for illegal discharge of firearms.

PNP deputy spokesman Senior Superintendent Robert Po said there was a declining trend in the cases of indiscriminate gunfire and stray bullet injuries.

“If you look at the trend, the figures are down by 15 to 20 percent this year for illegal discharge of firearms. But we have to wait for the actual festivities,” Po said.

He said nine indiscriminate firing cases have been reported this year compared to 30 cases last year.

He attributed this to the government’s campaign against illegal discharge of firearms and firecrackers and the increased awareness among gun owners on the dangers of firing their guns during the merrymaking.

According to the PNP, 69 incidents of indiscriminate firing, stray bullets and firecracker-related cases have been recorded so far.

A total of 32 victims were reported injured due to firecrackers, while two were arrested for the illegal sale of firecrackers in Bicol.

As of Monday, the PNP has confiscated 17,465 pieces of illegal firecrackers worth P10,593.

Most of the seized firecrackers were super lolo, lolo thunder, goodbye Philippines, watusi, piccolo, mother rockets, pillbox, boga, big Judas belt, big bawang, kwiton and kabasi.

With the PNP crime laboratory’s integrated ballistics identification system, which has a database of all licensed firearms, Po said police now have a higher chance of identifying, charging and prosecuting those who fire their guns on New Year’s eve.

“If a stray bullet is recovered, we can compare this with the database of the crime laboratory of licensed firearms for a match,” Po said.

“I am optimistic that there will be more arrests because of this system, especially in stray bullet cases.”

Po reminded the public, especially gun owners, against firing their guns or they would face arrest.