PNP told: Find New Year stray bullet shooters

Interior and Local Govenment Secretary Manuel Roxas II has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to find and arrest the suspects of indiscriminate firing that killed at least two victims during the New Year revelries.

Roxas said he personally relayed his order to PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima to track down the gun owners who fired the fatal stray bullets that hit seven-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella of Tala, Caloocan City and a 28-year-old housewife from Aklan.

“I have ordered General Purisima to find those who are behind these irresponsible and unconscionable acts,” Roxas said.

“Firing guns to welcome the New Year has no place in a civilized society, and those who fired the fatal bullets that killed innocent people must face the consequences of their recklessness," Roxas added.

Ella, the seven-year-old child, died at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City on Wednesday afternoon. She had been in a deep comatose after being hit by a stray bullet while standing in front of their house and watching fireworks on New Year's eve.

According to the PNP, the suspect who fired the stray bullet that killed Ella was not too far from where the victim was standing.

Police Chief Inspector Joseph Palmero, PNP Medico Legal chief, said the fatal stray bullet was from a caliber .45 and was fired about 50 meters away from Ella.

On Wednesday, a former military personnel identified as Juan Agos was arrested by the police along with three other men who were suspected of firing the stray bullet that killed Ella.

But Agos was cleared on the same day after an examination showed that the bullet which killed Ella was not from the suspect's firearm.

Purisima earlier appealed to the public for any information that can help them identify the suspect who fired the stray bullet that killed Ella.

Meanwhile, the DILG has also ordered the Western Visayas PNP to find the suspect who fired the stray bullet that killed the 28-year-old housewife from Aklan.

The National Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) earlier reported that a certain Mayette Miranda, 28, resident of Brgy. New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan, was hit by a stray bullet on her right chest.

However, the NDRRMC also said on Wednesday that the present medical status of the victim, who was reporteldy confined at St. Gabriel Hospital. has yet to determined.

The agency also reported earlier at least 33 victims of stray bullets while the PNP has recorded about 40 victims during the holiday celebrations.

The Department of Health has so far recorded only 22 stray bullet victims. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)