Philippine Daily Inquirer
SOURCE: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/333909/18-arrested-for-indiscriminate-firing-on-new-years-eve-pnp
A Filipino boy lifts his bandaged hand as he is treated for injuries from a firecracker explosion at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. Police arrested 18 trigger-happy individuals for allegedly firing their guns during the New Year’s Eve revelry, the Philippine National Police said on Wednesday. AP PHOTO/AARON FAVILA
MANILA, Philippines—Police arrested 18 trigger-happy individuals for allegedly firing their guns during the New Year’s Eve revelry, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.
Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr., PNP spokesperson, said two persons were killed and at least 39 others were injured by stray bullets nationwide.
The two fatalities were Stephanie Nicole Ella of Caloocan City, the seven-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet in the head and died in a Quezon City hospital on Wednesday, and four-year-old Ranjilo Nemer of Mandaluyong City.
Citing the latest data from the PNP’s National Operations Center in Camp Crame, he said the police recorded 19 incidents of indiscriminate firing during the country’s traditional rowdy merrymaking in ushering in the new year.
Twelve of the cases occurred in Metro Manila, where 10 persons were arrested for indiscriminate firing, he added.
“Our police units have already filed cases against these arrested individuals. The PNP will continually monitor the cases of the victims of stray bullets,” Cerbo told reporters.
He said the bullet slugs and other evidence gathered by the police would be subjected to ballistic examination to determine the source of the bullets and, possibly, identify the registered owner of the firearms used.
