By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has recorded a sharp decline in the number of firecracker-related incidents since Dec. 16, 2020 until evening of Jan. 1, 2021.
Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said they recorded four firecracker-related injuries for the said period and two stray bullet incidents.
Fortunately, no one was hit by the two stray bullet cases.
Malong said the alleged indiscriminate firing episode that happened 11pm on Dec. 31, 2020 at Talisay City, Negros Occidental is still under investigation.
The incident involved Police Executive Master Sergeant Renzy Lambayong, a resident of Barangay Zone 12-A, Talisay City.
According to the complainant, 50-year-old Arlen Torres, the respondent fired his gun twice following a confrontation. He was allegedly driving his motorcycle but Lambayong’s car was blocking the road.
He approached the cop and told him to park properly. It resulted in a verbal altercation.
Torres claimed he went home but came back and again approached Lambayong.
This time, Lambayong allegedly fired his gun twice. No one was hit.
Lambayong and Torres ended up at the police station.
They settled the matter, but Torres insisted to have the incident booked for future reference.
No empty shell was recovered at the scene of the incident.
Malong said it is up to the investigator how he would treat the incident, either as a case of indiscriminate firing or alarm and scandal.
Last year, PRO-6 recorded 27 firecracker-related incidents and one case of indiscriminate firing for the same period last year.
No stray bullet incident was recorded last year.
Still, Malong said coordination is being done with the Department of Health (DOH) to validate the data.
But DOH-6 recorded 11 firecracker-related incidents.
Four of the victims were treated at the hospital while seven were taken to the rural health units.
Ten of the victims were males and a lone female aged 45 years old.
Iloilo province recorded five incidents, two from Antique, and one each from Aklan, Capiz, Bacolod City, and Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile, Malong said the success of the safety and security coverage could be attributed to the zealous implementation of Enhanced Managing Police Operations and other Law Enforcement activities, the implementation of COVID-19 protocols, and the massive information drive on prevention of crimes, prevention of stay bullet and indiscriminate firing incidents among the uniformed personnel and civilian gun-owners and the possible destruction or injuries caused by firecrackers.
On the other hand, Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police chief, has cited the community and the stakeholders’ cooperation for the successful outcome of the security coverage.
Miranda also thanked the police force in Western Visayas for their dedication and hardwork shown in the performance of their duties in the year 2020.
“We will overcome the challenges that await in 2021, because together, we can make things happen” Miranda said.
He also assured that PRO-6 remains consistent in its efforts to keep Western Visayas as one of the most peaceful regions in the country.
