ILOILO City – Although there were firecracker blast-related injuries, New Year celebrations across Western Visayas from Dec. 31, 2021 to Jan. 1, 2022 were generally peaceful, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
There were no stray bullet cases, data from Camp Delgado, the PRO-6 headquarters, showed.
No policemen or other law enforcers were reported to have figured in the illegal discharge of firearms.
But before the year 2021 ended, 32-year-old Marlon Dela Cuesta of Barangay Tuburan, Maayon, Capiz was arrested in Barangay San Agustin, Iloilo City.
Around 10 p.m. on Dec. 31, residents reported to Police Corporal Kenny Roger Solatorio of Police Station 1 that the suspect fired a gun.
Responding policemen recovered a .45 pistol and seven spent bullet shells.
Dela Cuesta faces a charge for alarm and scandal and violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) for possessing an unlicensed gun.
In Barangay Sinikway, Lapuz also on New Year’s Eve, Iloilo City, 22-year-old Carlo Cabasinao of Barangay San Roque, Tapaz, Capiz was rushed to the West Visayas State University Medical Center for a stab wound on the chest.
A suspect was identified and taken to the La Paz district police station – Ajie Paracha, 21, of Sinikway.
The stabbing happened at around 11 p.m. The suspect’s group and the victim’s group had a brawl.
In the province of Iloilo, a security guard of Ramond Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan town got wounded when his service firearm accidentally went off.
The 28-year-old Jose Marie Pomar of Barangay Amurao, Cabatuan was wounded on his left leg. He accidentally squeezed the trigger of his .9mm pistol while peeing at around 1:50 a.m.
He was confined in the said hospital.
Also, according to PRO-6 spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, total crime incidents (TCI) decreased compared to the holiday celebrations in 2019.
From Dec. 16 to 31, 2021 923 crime incidents were recorded – a 10.3 percent drop from last year’s figures (1,029) reported in the same period.
In the so-called eight “focus” crimes, the PRO-6 recorded 117 crimes – 19 cases or 13.97 percent down from 2020’s 136 cases.
“PRO-6 recorded zero stray bullet incidents, but there was one person arrested for illegal discharge of firearm, one stabbing incident and an accidental firing in Iloilo City and province. As a whole we have a peaceful celebration,” Solis said.
The PRO-6 recorded eight “minor” boga– and firecracker-related injuries between Dec. 24 and Jan. 1 2022. Of these, five were minors and three were adults.
Also during New Year’s Eve, a vehicular accident transpired in Barangay Poblacion, Tigbauan, Iloilo. John Michael Cabalpin got hit by a motorcycle, instantaneously killing him.
“Other than that, no major incidents happened in my area,” said Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police director.
PRO-6 director, Police Brigadier Flynn Dongbo congratulated all police officers, barangay officials, force multipliers, and other stakeholders for helping the police keep New Year celebrations peaceful.
“Ito po ay nagpapakita na mas malaki ang ating magagawa kapag ang kumunidad at ang Philippine National Police ay nagtutulungan. At ako po’y nagpapasalamat sa kooperasyon ng lahat sa payapa at matiwasay na pagsalubong natin sa bagong taon. Sana po patuloy nyong suportahan ang inyong kapulisan,” Dongbo said.
For its part, the Bureau of Fire Protection recorded 12 fire incidents across the region between Dec. 31, 2021 and Jan. 1, 2022.
On Dec. 31, there were five that included two structures and one motorcycle in the province of Iloilo; Negros Occidental and Capiz had one fire incident each involving structures.
On Jan. 1, there were seven fire incidents – one in Negros Occidental (structural), four in Capiz (structural, non-structural and motorcycle), Aklan (one structural) and Antique (one structural).
There was zero New Year fire incident in Guimaras province.
BFP regional director Fire Senior Superintendent Jerry Candido said people were now more careful./PN
