EDITORIAL - Death of the innocents

As classes resumed yesterday after the Christmas break, classmates of seven-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella marched from their school to her house in Caloocan, demanding an end to indiscriminate firing to welcome the New Year. The children were old enough to realize that they would never see their classmate again, due to a tragedy that could have been avoided.

Ella, an outstanding student who dreamed of becoming a  teacher, died the other day from a stray bullet that struck her head as she watched a fireworks display with her father on New Year’s Eve. She has become the face of those who succumb each year to wounds suffered from gunfire caused by stupid, irresponsible revelers who think bullets fired into the air stay there or disintegrate without causing harm.

A day before Ella’s death, four-year-old Ranjelo Nimer was also killed by a hail of bullets from an improvised shotgun allegedly fired by a neighbor during the New Year’s Eve celebration. The suspect claimed the weapon fell and accidentally went off, but what was he doing with a gun outside his house in the first place?

At least a suspect has been apprehended in Nimer’s case. Police are still trying to trace the source of the caliber .45 bullet that pierced Nicole’s skull and lodged behind her eye. An Army reservist from Ella’s neighborhood is currently under investigation, according to initial reports last night.

There are proposals to pass legislation increasing the penalty for firing a gun as part of holiday revelry. Apart from this move, the Philippine National Police must improve its capability to keep track of firearms and enforce gun laws.

Ella and Nimer are just the latest victims of indiscriminate gunfire during New Year celebrations. A few years ago, a child sleeping in a shanty was also killed by a stray bullet. The dangerous revelry has persisted because no one has been made to answer for the killings. The deaths of Ella and Nimer should change this.