New Year generally peaceful

THE 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division (4ID) said Wednesday that no record or any report of soldiers “committing illegal discharge of firearms” during Christmas and New Year’s day celebrations.

4ID Commander Major General Nestor Añonuevo said they successfully implemented the policy and guidelines of not unnecessarily firing a gun during the holidays, especially on New Year’s celebration.

Añonuevo said this guideline aims to avoid incidents of unsuspected victims being hit by stray bullets and prevents any insertion violence from other threat groups responsible for making criminal acts during the period of yuletide season.

“This indicates that our Diamond soldiers are professionals in terms of discipline and loyalty of their service. With everybody’s cooperation, our Christmas and New Year’s celebration were fruitfully and successfully achieved in a peaceful manner,” he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) also said the New Year celebration in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental is generally peaceful.

Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao spokesperson Ronnie Cariaga told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro there were no major incidents recorded during the celebration.

However, Cariaga said they have yet to get the number of firecracker victims pending the submission of the record from the Department of Health (DOH).

Cariaga said he is confident that no major injuries from firecrackers are recorded, attributing this to the massive information drive and campaign initiated by different government agencies against the use of firecrackers.

In Cagayan de Oro, acting City Police Director Antonio Montalba also said there was no reported fatality during the celebration.

Both Cariaga and Montalba claimed no PNP personnel were reported to fire their guns indiscriminately during New Year.

However, report said a 10-year-old girl from Barangay Balulang was reportedly hit by a stray bullet during New Year’s Day celebration. No suspects were identified yet as of this posting.