Metro Manila records 5 indiscriminate firing, 9 firecracker cases

MANILA — Five indiscriminate firing and nine firecracker incidents were reported in Metro Manila from December 21 up to 5 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head Police Director Guillermo Eleazar said on Monday (December 31).

NCRPO covers the Manila Police District (MPD), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Northern Police District (NPD), Southern Police District (SPD), and Eastern Police District (EPD).

Based on the NCRPO data, Eleazar said MPD recorded a stray bullet incident that wounded one person; and nine firecracker incidents that hurt nine people.

There was no fire incident in Manila, he added.

Eleazar ordered the five police district heads and the police chiefs in their areas to intensify the campaign against illegal firecrackers.

The NCRPO chief said that 21 illegal firecrackers have been confiscated worth PHP3,170 but no one was arrested.

Eleazar earlier called on the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any indiscriminate firing incident to the nearest police station or precinct.

“Appeal natin sa public is their vigilance, kung may nakita sila mga nag-iinuman at may nakita silang nakasukbit na baril or may naobserbahan sila o narinig na putok i-report kaagad nila sa nearest police station (We want to appeal to the public to be vigilant. If they see men having a drinking spree and one of them has gun in his waist, or hear gun shots, then report them immediately to the nearest police station),” Eleazar said.

Eleazar also said the NCRPO is set to deploy almost 10,000 cops on New Year’s Eve, with the aim of achieving a zero-casualty record in cases of indiscriminate firing of guns.

“So ang gagawin natin ngayon (what we will do now is) we maximize the deployment of troops from the [NCRPO] headquarters pati na sa (including at the) NHQ [National Headquarters in Camp Crame],” he said.

“We will deploy them in areas na prevalent or most common ang pagkakaroon ng indiscriminate firing (We will deploy them in areas where indiscriminate firing is prevalent),” he added.

He ordered the cancellation of the rest and recreation and other leave applications of policemen; and directed them to report for duty during the holidays.

“The concept is to deploy in areas where indiscriminate firing is prevalent or most common. If there were reports from nearest police station and gagawin ng police from the station ibabato 'yung info dun sa mga naka-deploy na police na malapit sa area… through hot pursuit kung kinakailangan pasukin ang bahay without warrant ay papasukin namin 'yung bahay para maaresto yung nagpaputok (the information will be relayed to police officers deployed in the area and if necessary -- through hot pursuit -- they go after the suspects even if they run into their homes and arrest them even without a warrant). That’s our warning,” Eleazar earlier said.

“Mahalaga ang police visibility first for deterrent, and second is for immediate response kung kailangan ng police assistance (Police visibility is important first for deterrent, and second is for immediate response if assistance is needed),” said Eleazar.

Meanwhile, the NCRPO Chief said some 404 community firecracker zones and 55 community fireworks display areas were designated in Metro Manila for the New Year's Day celebration.

Eleazar said the designation of firecracker zones aims to reduce injuries and fire incidents caused by fireworks and firecrackers.

He said the designated areas are identified by the police, in coordination with the respective barangays and local government units. Police assistance desks will be established in these areas and will be manned by PNP personnel, augmented by NCRPO force multipliers.

According to Eleazar the QCPD identified 166 areas as designated firecracker zones; NPD has 93; MPD, 73; SPD, 52; and EPD, 20 areas.

The Metro Manila top cop also said there are 55 designated community fireworks display zones-- 34 in QCPD, 12 in EPD, five in SPD and two each in MPD and NPD.

Eleazar said that the cities of Makati, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Marikina and municipality of Pateros have not released any designated firework display zone due to the strict implementation of their respective city ordinances.

“The NCRPO will work hand-in-hand with concerned government agencies to ensure safe and secured celebration of the coming holidays. Our people can rest assure of our continuous vigilance for their protection and security and that we will not allow anyone to disrupt the peaceful observance and celebration of the holiday season,” Eleazar said. (PNA)

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