11 hit by stray bullets

MANILA, Philippines – Eleven people were hit by stray bullets during the New Year revelry, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

The PNP’s “Iwas Paputok at Disgrasya 2015” also identified some of the people suspected of indiscriminately firing their guns that led to the growing list of victims hit by stray bullets.

Since the start of its monitoring last Dec. 16, the PNP said there have been 28 stray bullet incidents. Of this number, 17 were injured by stray bullets.

The people hit by stray bullets outside Metro Manila were from Antique, General Santos City, Cebu City, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Sulu and Ilocos Norte.

However, there were initial reports that some were hit by stray bullets in the province of Pangasinan, Tarlac, Lanao del Sur and Metro Manila.

In Pangasinan, a 69-year old housewife was hit by a stray bullet in Binalonan town.

Five people were hit in the provinces comprising the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Four people were injured in Jolo, Sulu and another in Malabang town in Lanao del Sur.

Two persons were also hit by stray bullets in Taguig and Makati City, Metro Manila.

Police said eight people have been identified as having illegally fired their guns.

Six of them have already been taken into custody, including Police Officer 1 Francis Flake, 29, assigned at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). Flake allegedly fired his Glock 17 service pistol last Dec. 22 in front of a restaurant in Malate, Manila.

Two other suspects, identified as Marianito Alob from Sariaya, Quezon and Errol Calivoso, 43, from Ilocos Norte, are now being hunted by police.

Police also arrested the suspect behind the stray bullet incident involving a nine-year-old girl in Marikina City last Dec. 30.

Reynaldo Ruiz spent the New Year in jail after he was arrested in his home in Barangay Malanday. He did not resist arrest.

Witnesses claimed Ruiz fired his handgun and one of the bullets hit Francia Grace Aragon, who was watching television with her mother in their bedroom.  – With Non Alquitran, Ric Sapnu, Ed Amoroso, Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez, John Unson