QC New Year celebration 'remarkably peaceful' - police chief
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan on Tuesday, Jan. 2, said that the New Year celebration in the city was generally peaceful.
Maranan said that aside from one incident of indiscriminate firing, the city police recorded no other untoward incidents on New Year's Day.
Lt. Col. Morgan Aguilar, QCPD Talipapa Station (PS 3) commander, identified the suspect as Boy Bagua, 44, a security guard from Barangay Baesa, Quezon City.
PS 3 deployed personnel along Baesa Road in the said barangay after receiving a report from a concerned citizen about a man who allegedly fired gunshots while in the area.
Upon their arrival, police spotted Bagua with a handgun visibly tucked into his waist. The QCPD said the suspect was evidently under the influence of alcohol
Recovered from Bagua were one ARMSCOR 202 cal. 38 SPL , a fired cartridge case, and four live rounds of ammunition.
The suspect will be charged with violations of Republic Act (RA) 11926 (Indiscriminate Discharge of Firearms) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Regulation Act).
Police said it also logged zero incidents of eight focus crimes - murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, theft, robbery, car and motorcycle theft - and minimal firecrackers-related incidents.
It attributed its intensified anti-drug and anti-criminality operations conducted in the city for the peaceful celebration of New Year.
The city police had earlier announced that it confiscated 14,565 pieces of prohibited types of firecrackers with an estimated value of P400,000.00 from Dec. 26-30.
The seized firecrackers were destroyed at the QCPD Grandstand, Camp Karingal on Dec. 30.
“Malaking bagay po talaga iyong programa ng ating QC LGU sa pagtatalaga ng designated areas tulad ng Quezon Memorial Circle at piling mga open spaces para sa mga firecrackers. Dahil dito mas nabantayan ng ating kapulisan itong mga areas na ito. And for this, I would like to sincerely thank the QC LGU led by our very own Mayor Josefina 'Joy' Belmonte, for all the significant programs and support for QCPD. "
Maranan also extended his New Year’s greetings to the families of his personnel.
He also commended the members of the QCPD for maintaining peace and order and making sacrifices to ensure that welcoming the year 2024 in the city was peaceful.