Security guard nabbed for indiscriminate firing

MANILA, Philippines — A security guard is facing criminal charges after he was caught indiscriminately firing his gun during the New Year’s Eve revelry in Quezon City, police reported yesterday.

Boy Bagua, 44, was spotted by a concerned citizen firing his .38-caliber handgun in Barangay Baesa.

Quezon City Police District director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said Bagua was drunk when operatives of the Talipapa police station 3 arrested him.

The suspect is being held on charges of violating Republic Act 11926 or the indiscriminate discharge of firearms law and RA 10591, the comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition.

Except for Bagua’s case, Maranan said the New Year celebrations in Quezon City were generally peaceful.

Maranan said there were no crimes recorded and there were minimal firecracker-related injuries, which he attributed to the intensified crackdown on illegal fireworks and pyrotechnics.

Police seized 14,565 assorted firecrackers worth P400,000 before the New Year’s Eve festivities.

Maranan lauded the local government of Quezon City under the leadership of Mayor Joy Belmonte for designating open spaces in the city as firecracker zones.

“Dahil dito mas nabantayan ng ating kapulisan itong mga areas na ito. And for this, I would like to thank the city government,” Maranan said in a statement.

He also commended police officers for their sacrifices in maintaining peace and order in the city during the Yuletide season.