PNP records 3 New Year revelry-related incidents

THE Philippine National Police said on Sunday that the New Year’s Eve celebration and the first hours of the year 2023 were relatively peaceful, with only three New Year revelry-related incidents recorded, Police Colonel Redrico A. Maranan confirmed on Sunday.

Maranan, who is also PNP Public Information Office Acting Chief, said the celebration from December 31, 2022, to January 1, 2023, was “resoundingly” safer compared to previous years except for two incidents of indiscriminate firing without victims that were reported in Iloilo and Quezon City involving one civilian and a member of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Both were arrested by police.

Maranan said there was only one reported victim of stray bullet, with the victim from Iloilo City.

“We assure that appropriate charges will be filed against those individuals who violated the law against indiscriminate firing. We have been constantly reminding our gun owners/holders to be responsible at all times in using their firearms and not to harm innocent people,” Maranan quoted PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. as saying.

Azurin said the isolated cases were significantly minimal since the majority of the country still experienced a relatively peaceful New Year. He added the next step is to coordinate with the Department of Health to gather data on firecrackerrelated injuries.

Police records showed that from December 16 up to 31, 2022, about 23 people were arrested due to illegal possession, use and sale of firecrackers.

Azurin said the full alert status along with the heightened deployment of policemen have made the country generally peaceful in welcoming the new year.