Palace expects results from stray bullet probes

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is expected to resolve the cases involving stray bullets, which claimed the life of an 11-year-old girl in Abra and resulted in a number of injuries, according to Malacañang officials.

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said they shared the optimism of the PNP and the military that they could arrest all the people involved in indiscriminate firing during the New Year.

“According to the PNP there were still incidents though (the number) went down...They are not just investigating the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) or PNP personnel and they are confident that they will be able to find the suspects (in) the stray bullet incidents,” Valte said.

The latest incidents occurred two years after seven-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella died from a stray bullet during the New Year revelry in Caloocan City. The case remains unresolved.

“What they do now is they conduct slug matching so they can trace the origin and identify the owner. So we are hoping that the efforts of the PNP will bear fruit,” Valte said.

Four policemen, an Army soldier and four security guards were among 12 persons arrested for firing their guns despite warnings against indiscriminate firing in greeting the New Year.

The PNP also started investigating other incidents of indiscriminate firing, for which four civilians had been arrested.

The PNP yesterday said the number of people hit by stray bullets remained at 56.

A total of 14 people were hit in Metro Manila, while Region 6 reported 13 people hurt from indiscriminate firing.

The PNP added seven people were hit in the Cordillera Autonomous Region, seven also from Region 4-A; four in Region 8, three in Regions 1 and 3 and one each in Regions 2, 5, 7, 9 and 12.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said six police officers were also arrested for illegally firing their guns during the New Year.

He added PO1 Joy Velasco is now being hunted for indiscriminate firing in Region 11.

An operative of the National Capital Region Police Office identified as PO2 Mark Anthony Ballesteros is also being hunted for indiscriminate firing in Tondo, Manila.

Local officials and private groups have put up a bounty for the arrest of the gunman that killed 11-year-old Jercy Decym Buenafe Tabaday during the New Year revelry in Abra.

Mayor added Velasco and the other arrested police officers are now facing administrative charges and a complaint for alarm and scandal. Mayor added the policemen have also been relieved from their posts and have been placed on floating status pending the completion of an administrative investigation.

Mayor noted the complaint of alarm and scandal is a bailable offense. However, the erring police officers could be dismissed from the PNP if the result of the investigation would find them guilty of committing the administrative violation of grave misconduct.

The arrested police officers have all posted bail, according to Mayor.

“Investigation on their administrative liability for grave misconduct is ongoing. Dismissal from the service is the maximum penalty once they will be found guilty,” Mayor said.

He said a final report on the number of indiscriminate firing incidents, as well as the victims of stray bullets, would be released by the PNP next week.

Aside from the six police officers, the PNP also arrested four security guards and six civilians for indiscriminate firing.

Mayor also warned policemen found to have tampered with the masking tape that sealed the muzzles of their service guns during the holiday season will be placed under investigation for possible administrative violations.

“They will have to explain why the tape sealing the muzzles was removed or tampered with,” said Mayor.

The PNP had earlier ordered the muzzles of all service firearms of police officers covered with masking tape and signed over by their superiors to prevent any illegal discharge during the holiday season. – Mike Frialde, Aie Balagtas-See, Artemio Dumlao, Raymund Catindig, Ric Sapnu