Indiscriminate firing reported but New Year revelry generally peaceful —PNP

The nationwide New Year celebration had been generally peaceful although marred by at least two cases of indiscriminate firing of weapon, one involving a police officer, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

Interviewed on Unang Hirit, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said a policewoman in Malabon was arrested for indiscriminate firing while in Dagupan a person was hit by a stray bullet.

"Pangkalahatan naging matahimik naman, wala pong masyadong naitala na kahit na anong untoward incident in relation sa celebration ng New Year," Usana said.

Firecracker-related incidents, he said, was not as many as those reported in the past years.

"Meron din po tayong naitalang isang indiscriminate firing, ito po ay kagagawan ng isang policewoman from Malabon, at meron din pong isang stray bullet na ang naging biktima ay taga-Dapuan naman po," Usana said.

Usana did not identify the policewoman involved in the indiscriminate firing incident but said she will likely be dismissed from the service for the infraction.

"Kahit ano po ang depensa niya kung siya po ay hindi nagpe-perform ng duty that time na nagpapaputok siya ng baril niya, definitely yung kanyang kakaharapin ay mabigat," he said.

Regarding the stray bullet victim, Usana said the victim was hit in one of his legs and is now recuperating at home after seeking medical treatment.

Investigation, he said, is ongoing to determine the source of the bullet.

"Most likely yan nakuha yung slug and eventually iko-connect po ito through forensics, malalaman kung yung baril na ginamit ay naka-register, madi-determine po natin kung sino po ang may-ari," he said. --KBK, GMA News