ILOILO City — The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) reported zero incident of stray bullets during the Christmas celebration, Police Colonel Kim Legada said.
“With regard to incidents of stray bullets, as of now, we have no recorded cases. Even last year, while there were indications of stray bullets, there were no victims,” he said.
Legada explained that in previous years, some residents discovered marks or holes on ceilings inside their homes after New Year celebrations, but these incidents did not result in injuries.
The ICPO director attributed the zero stray bullet victims to stricter enforcement and discipline within the police force, particularly regarding firearm handling.
“We are not allowing the indiscriminate discharge of firearms. Our personnel are disciplined and fully aware of the consequences. Any unauthorized discharge of a firearm is considered a major offense,” Legada said, adding that personnel caught mishandling firearms face severe penalties, including dismissal from service.
He also clarified that the police no longer engage in the practice of bringing or displaying firearms unnecessarily during operations: “There is really no need to do that. We are performing our regular duties, and compromising firearm safety during responses can cause malfunction and endanger both personnel and civilians.”
The city’s top cop stressed that the safety of the public remains the top priority during police operations.
In 2024, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) reported zero stray bullet incidents for the first time during the holiday season, reflecting the effectiveness of ongoing firearm control measures. However, PRO-6 recorded three cases of illegal firearm discharge, which remain under investigation.
Police reiterated their call to the public to report any firearm-related violations as they step up monitoring for a safe New Year celebration in the city./PN
