The Christmas and New Year celebrations in Manila were “generally peaceful," Manila Police District (MPD) Director Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay said on Wednesday, Jan. 3.

In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Ibay said there was no stray bullet incident recorded except for the firecracker-related injuries.

"It was a generally peaceful celebration without any major incident," he noted.

According to the police report, 143 sustained firecracker-related injuries.

Five people were also arrested after yielding an estimated amount of P80,000 worth of various types of fireworks during the MPD "Oplan Ligtas New Year" operation.

The MPD said the directives of Ibay have been strictly given to all the Manila police to ensure stringent vigilance in the community and public places in the city.

"Naging mapayapa ang nagdaang kapaskuhan, partikular na sa pagsisimula ng simbang gabi hanggang pagsalubong sa bagong taon dahil na rin sa maayos na serbisyo na inilaan ng hanay ng MPD (The holiday season was peaceful, especially from the beginning of the simbang gabi until the welcoming of the new year due to the good service provided by the MPD ranks)," it added.

It also said that 774 of its personnel were deployed to conduct patrol operations in crowded places in Manila.

Apart from the deployment in populated areas, MPD officers led by Ibay had been actively inspecting Divisoria and Quiapo shopping centers.

Several tarpaulins were also installed in public markets on safety reminders for a peaceful shopping experience during the holiday season.

Police also inspected transport terminals in Sampaloc to ensure the safety of the passengers going to and from Manila. 

"Lubos tayong sumasaludo sa hanay ng Manilas Finest dahil sa masigasig na pagbabantay seguridad at pagpapatupad ng disiplina kaya't wala rin naitala na biktima ng ligaw na bala o insidente ng indiscriminate firing sa lungsod (We highly salute the ranks of Manila's Finest for diligently monitoring security and enforcing discipline, that is why there was no recorded victim of stray bullets or incident of indiscriminate firing in the city)," MPD said.

It also acknowledged the support given by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief, Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan.

Nartatez commended the leadership of Ibay and the station commanders in the city, citing the diligent and smooth service that MPD provided in the capital city.

"To the dedicated officers and personnel of the MPD, I hope that we can foster a culture characterized by discipline, integrity, fairness, and community trust throughout our stations and PCPs in the city," Ibay said.

"Rest assured that I will work with you to make each day an opportunity for us to deliver the best police service to all Manileños and the Filipino people," he added.