PNP reports 13 illegal gun discharge incidents

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police yesterday reported a total of 13 incidents of illegal discharge of firearms.

PNP public information office chief Col. Jean Fajardo said that three cases involved PNP personnel during New Year’s Eve revelry.

One officer, reportedly dealing with family problems, discharged a firearm in front of his home, while another cop allegedly fired shots after being ignored by passersby.

The third case occurred around 1 p.m. on Sunday, where an officer entered a colleague’s barracks, took a firearm and discharged it within the police station premises.

“Investigations are underway and the PNP emphasizes the need to address such behavior,” Fajardo said in Filipino.

She added that the cases of discharged firearms recorded were three from the PNP and two from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

On cases of stray bullets, two incidents were reported in Region 3, specifically in Sta. Maria, Bulacan and Mariveles, Bataan, according to the PNP official.

She said the Mariveles incident resulted in a fatality, prompting investigations to determine if it was a genuine stray bullet case.

In 2022, the PNP recorded 12 cases of stray bullets while there were 11 in 2021.

Meanwhile, a policeman accidentally killed himself with his service pistol inside his residence in Barangay Mabuhay in Bansalan, Davao del Sur before dawn yesterday.

The Davao del Sur Provincial Police identified the fatality as Patrolman Jhaniel Salip Pepito of the 2nd Davao del Sur Police Mobile Force Company.

Citing initial findings by responding probers, the Bansalan Municipal Police Station said Pepito was seen by members of his family tinkering with his 9mm Canik pistol before a gunshot reverberated through his house in Zapanta Village in Barangay Mabuhay.

He was declared dead on arrival by doctors at a hospital where emergency responders from the Bansalan local government unit brought him for treatment.

Pepito’s relatives told reporters that they are certain he had accidentally shot himself in the face, causing his immediate death.

Authorities are hunting down the owner of a gun fired during the New Year revelries that hit a 60-year-old Catholic priest in Purok 7,