4 arrested for indiscriminate firing

MANILA, Philippines - Police have arrested four people in various parts of the country for illegally firing their guns during the holidays.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said four guns were also seized together with 420 pieces and 206 reams of illegal firecrackers.

The information is based on a report from the PNP National Operation Center at Camp Crame, Mayor said.

A Manila police officer accused of indiscriminately firing his gun after quarreling with with his wife has been disarmed on orders of PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

Police Officer 2 Alger Balligud has been relieved, he added.

Mayor said Balligud will face summary dismissal proceedings if he cannot justify his actions.

“We have discplinary mechanisms,” he said.

The STAR reported that Balligud fired his gun several times along T. Pinpin Street in Binondo, Manila on Dec, 22.

Mayor said Balligud will be charged with alarm and scandal or reckless imprudence resulting in homicide if the bullets fired from his gun had killed somebody.

‘Firing a gun indiscriminately is definitely illegal,” he said.

Mayor said as of yesterday, 17 incidents of illegal discharge of firearms were reported nationwide and six people were injured.

In the Ilocos Region, six incidents of illegal discharge of firearms were reported, one injury due to firecrackers, and four illegal firecrackers seized.

In Southern Tagalog, two incidents were reported: one injury due to a stray bullet and one illegal discharge of firearm.

In Central Visayas, there were three incidents: a person was injured due to a stray bullet, a victim of firecracker and a firecracker stall burned.

In Eastern Visayas, a stray bullet was reported but no one was hit.

In Metro Manila, three incidents were reported: two illegal discharge of firearms and one stray bullet.