5 hit by stray bullets in ARMM, Region 12

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Five people in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and in Administrative Region 12 were hurt by stray bullets fired by New Year revelers, officials said Friday.

Physician Kadil Sinolinding Jr., ARMM’s regional health secretary, said a total of four people, three in Jolo, capital town of Sulu, and another in Malabang town in Lanao Del Sur, were wounded by stray bullets fired overhead by gun owners to greet the New Year.

“We have zero firecracker injury this time, but four ARMM residents were hurt by stray bullets,” Sinolinding said.

Sinolinding said the accidental gun injury cases in Jolo involved minors and an adult named Nadzmier Jikiri, who were out of their houses when revelers began firing guns at midnight Thursday.

Sinolinding said another adult in Malabang, a seaside town in the second district of Lanao del Sur province, also sustained a gunshot wound, now undergoing medication at a hospital.

In Cotabato City, which is under Region 12, a man was rushed to a hospital for an accidental bullet wound in his foot.

Jenny Ventura, information officer of the regional office of the Department of Health in Region 12, said they have listed 64 cases of firecracker injuries from December 21 to January 1.

Region 12 covers the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and Gen. Santos City and the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani.