PNP chief: Nicole’s killer will be caught

MANILA, Philippines - Exactly a year after Stephanie Nicole Ella was hit by a stray bullet, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima said yesterday they will eventually catch the person who indiscriminately fired a gun during the New Year’s Eve revelry last year.

“We are really having a hard time in the investigation and we can’t just get a fall guy to make it appear that we resolved the case but in the end, the case against the fall guy will be eventually dismissed,” he said.

Purisima expressed confidence that Ella’s killer will be caught.

“What we are doing is we are still gathering more information. The long arms of the law will catch them,” he said.

Ella and her family were outside their home in Caloocan City watching the New Year’s Eve revelry when a bullet hit her. She died two days later. The shooter remains unidentified.

Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, spokesman to the office of the PNP chief, said 12 persons were hit by stray bullets from Dec. 16 to 30. The latest victim was identified as Joseph Lopez, 30, of Marikina City, who was hit in the chest.