Raps filed vs group in shooting frenzy video

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Trigger-happy men, whose photos of indiscriminate firing during New Year’s Eve went viral on social media, are now facing charges, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

Ilocos Region police director Chief Superintendent Roman Felix said the Narvacan police filed charges of alarm and scandal against the suspects at the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC).

Named in the charge sheet docketed under Criminal Case #5340 were Cezar Funtanilla, Mark R-Jay Cabana, Jumar Cabreros, Ian Cristopher Calixterio, Russel Funtanilla, Philip Andrew Funtanilla, Geronimo Gomez and Mark Cachola, all residents of Barangay San Antonio in Narvacan town.

Felix said investigation showed that the suspects allegedly fired their guns during the New Year revelry as evidenced by the videos and photos they uploaded on their Facebook pages.

The Narvacan police is also determining the ownership of the firearms used and have requested license verification at the Firearms and Explosive Office at Camp Crame to find out if the suspects are holders of any registered firearm.

Felix encouraged the public to cooperate with the police and report violators, including those with suspected loose firearms.

“We urge the public to report their neighbors who have fired their guns indiscriminately during the past yuletide season so that we can take appropriate action against them,” Felix said.

He also assured the informants that their identities will be kept confidential.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said the photos and videos of the suspects should be authenticated by witnesses to ensure an airtight case.

Two stray bullet cases were reported in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur during the New Year revelry but authorities have failed to identify the culprits in the cases.

Bounty increased

In Abra, the Provincial Peace and Order Council has increased the bounty offer of P100,000 to P200,000 for any information leading to the identification and arrest of the gunman who killed an 11-year-old girl during the New Year celebration.

Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin told The STARhe is hoping the move will help speed up the arrest of the culprit.

The Cordillera Police Regional Office initially raised a bounty of P100,000 from the Guardian Reform Agenda for Cooperation and Economic Prosperity (Grace).

Stray bullet victim Jercy Decym Buenafe Tabaday, who succumbed to a gunshot wound in the head at the Bangued Provincial Hospital, was with her father watching fireworks outside their house when felled by a .45 caliber bullet.

Meanwhile, the Caloocan police yesterday said they have identified the area where the stray bullet that hit a 13-year-old girl last New Year’s Eve was fired and it came from a .45 caliber pistol.

“Based on the wound of the victim and the ensuing triangulation, we have pinpointed the area where it could have been fired. We are now going to request those we have already identified as gun owners of the area to submit their firearms for ballistic examination,” Senior Supt. Bartolome Bustamante, city chief of police, said.- With Rey Galupo, Paolo Romero, Ric Sapnu