Mar orders PNP to get suspects in indiscriminate firing

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Thursday ordered the Philippine National Police to immediately find and charge those who fired the fatal stray bullets that claimed the lives of at least two persons, including a seven-year-old girl, during the last New Year’s Eve revelry.

Roxas said he personally relayed his order to PNP Director General Alan Purisima to track down the owners of the guns from which the fatal stray bullets hit Stephanie Nicole Ella, 7, of Tala, Caloocan City and a 28-year-old housewife from Aklan who both succumbed to gunshot wounds.

"I have ordered General Purisima to find those who are behind these irresponsible and unconscionable acts," Roxas said.

Meanwhile, the Caloocan City government has offered a P200,000 reward that would lead to the arrest of the person responsible for Ella's killing.

Caloocan Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri said the reward is part of the city government's effort to bring justice to the the victim.

"We cannot afford a repeat of this senseless incident," Echiverri said.

The PNP has recorded at least 40 victims of stray bullets during the holiday celebrations, including Runjillo Nimer, 4, who was also killed Monday night after he was hit by a home-made shotgun or “sumpak”. 

Police have arrested the suspect in the incident who claimed he was drunk when his gun went off accidentally, hitting the boy who was playing nearby. (with a report from PNA)