New Year's celebration in WV, peaceful and orderly
Despite the increase in firecrackers incidents, the New Year's celebration in Western Visayas has been peaceful and orderly.
Police Regional Office 6 Director Chief Supt. Wilfredo V. Dulay, Sr. yesterday said a total of 62 firecrackers-related incidents were recorded for this year against the 43 incidents in 2007.
Record showed that Negros Occidental has the most number of incidents with 34 cases, Iloilo with 13 incidents, Iloilo City with seven incidents, Bacolod City with four, Aklan with two, and one incident each for Capiz and Guimaras. The province of Antique has no firecrackers-related incident.
"The firecrackers-related incidents were out of our control," Dulay quipped adding that they did try to strongly enforce the Oplan "Iwas Paputok".
He explained, "To avoid injuries due to firecrackers, the public must avoid pyrotechnics during the celebration."
Dulay also said that, of the nine incidents stray bullet-related incident, no injury was recorded this year compared to four injuries last year. No fire incident occurred from December 31 to January 1, 2008.
Notwithstanding the nine stray bullet-related incidents this New Year, the Top Cop believed that the police force have become effective in their campaign against indiscriminate firing, especially that none of the PNP members has fired his/her gun.
The PNP was strict in its campaign against indiscriminate firing, particularly with its members. Shortly before the New Year, Dulay ordered the taping of muzzle of firearms of the PNP personnel to discourage them from firing their guns.
The nine stray bullet-related incidents transpired only in Iloilo City.