PNP warns vs firing guns for New Year revelry

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has appealed to gun owners not to use their firearms to welcome the New Year.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde issued the appeal yesterday after three incidents of gun-firing occurred during the Christmas celebration.

“Do not fire your gun as it can hurt someone. It can kill a person,” Albayalde said in Filipino.

The first shooting incident occurred in Caloocan City involving an officer of the Navotas police station and seven victims.

Police Officer 1 Danilo Tiempo claimed he was compelled to fire his gun after the victims allegedly beat up his father.

The victims – identified as Jayrold Balais, Wilmer Cabulao, Oliver Panican, Mark Angelo Custodio, Anthony Solero, Marvin Borres and Joel Ramos – were playing cara y cruz in Barangay 28 when Tiempo reportedly shot them shortly before midnight.

Tiempo fled after the incident. Three hours later and accompanied by his mother, he surrendered to the Caloocan police. He was placed under the custody of his superiors.

At almost the same time in Pangasinan, a barangay councilor was arrested for firing a pistol in Villasis town.

Roy Elevazo of Barangay Piaz was placed in police custody after investigators recovered 14 bullet shells for a 9mm pistol in front of a house owned by Danilo Gamboa.

Elevazo initially refused to surrender to responding police officers who acted on a complaint of a concerned citizen.

He failed to present documents for the gun.

In Batangas City, Romeo Pilona, 38, was fishing in Barangay Wawa when a bullet from an unknown caliber hit him at around 2:30 a.m.

Residents rushed him to the Batangas Medical Center for treatment.

Peaceful Christmas

Albayalde described the nationwide Christmas celebration as generally peaceful.

Except for the three shootings, he said no major incidents that could disrupt the peaceful situation occurred.

Albayalde said they also received reports about an encounter between Army troopers and communist rebels in Davao del Sur.

He said the PNP would continue to intensify security operations to ensure a peaceful New Year celebration.

He reminded police officers and soldiers to do the same, saying they should be responsible for their actions as members of the uniformed service.

Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar warned the public that the police would not hesitate to enter the houses of gun owners who would use their firearms to celebrate the New Year.

“If we need to jump over the fence to get into their houses because we knew that they fired a gun, we will do so,” Eleazar said in Filipino yesterday.

He said they increased the presence of police officers in places with history of indiscriminate firing and stray bullet incidents.

“With the help of the public, the police can immediately apprehend people possessing loose firearms,” he added. – With Eva Visperas, Marc Jason Cayabyab