Man injured after bullet hit; village official subsequently arrested for indiscriminate firing
- A 54-year-old village official was apprehended after firing multiple rounds during New Year's Eve
- A 45-year-old neighbor is currently hospitalized after being struck in the neck by a stray bullet
- Investigators recovered over 20 bullet casings in front of the councilor's residence in Baliwag
- The suspect claims he was only firing toward a canal, but now faces frustrated hom1cide charges
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What was intended to be a night of joyous reunion and hope for 2026 was shattered in an instant for a 45-year-old resident of Barangay Pinagbarilan.
Source: UGC
While seated under a mango tree enjoying the New Year’s Eve breeze with his family, the victim’s celebration ended in a terrifying collapse after a stray bullet pierced his neck just moments after the clock struck midnight.
The victim, whose identity has been withheld for privacy, was reportedly in the middle of a festive conversation when he suddenly slumped over.
"Nakaupo po siya sa ilalim ng mangga. May upuan sila roon and then siguro may kausap siya and nagsi-celebrate nga po ng New Year's Eve. Bigla na lang po siyang bumagsak," shared Police Lieutenant Colonel Jayson San Pedro, Chief of the Baliwag City Police.
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The suddenness of the event left witnesses in shock as they scrambled to provide aid and rush the man to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery.
The subsequent investigation led Baliwag authorities to a nearby residence where the scene was far from festive.
In front of the house, investigators were stunned to find more than 20 spent shells littering the ground.
The resident, a 54-year-old barangay kagawad (village councilor), was promptly taken into custody. Police recovered two registered firearms from the official: a 9mm pistol and a .22 caliber handgun.
Despite the city’s strict "no indiscriminate firing" policy, the official allegedly admitted to discharging his weapons, claiming he had only pointed them toward an irrigation canal in front of his home.
However, ballistics and trajectory analysis conducted by the police suggest a direct link between the official’s actions and the neighbor’s critical injury.
This tragedy highlights a disturbing trend despite nationwide warnings. While the suspect has remained silent on camera, he now faces grave charges of reckless imprudence resulting in frustrated hom1cide and illegal discharge of firearms.
For the victim, who remains under medical observation, the start of 2026 is marked not by resolution, but by a long and painful road to recovery.
In other news, an 11-year-old boy suffered a life-altering accident on New Year's Day when a discarded firework he found exploded in his hand, resulting in the loss of four fingers. The Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region reported a total of 170 firework-related incidents between December 21, 2025, and January 1, 2026, with children making up the majority of victims. Medical officials noted a concerning increase in the number of emergency admissions for explosive-related wounds this season compared to the previous year’s statistics. In response to the wave of injuries, health authorities are renewing their plea for parents to strictly monitor their children and prevent them from handling "dud" or unexploded pyrotechnics.
Still in other news, a New Year’s gathering in Barangay Poblacion, Datu Piang, devolved into violence after a heated dispute arose over the excessive noise from revving motorcycle engines. A local resident sustained a gunshot wound when a bystander, who had initially stepped in to break up a physical brawl, discharged a firearm during the chaos. Viral footage of the incident surfaced online, depicting scenes of panic and confusion as the sound of gunshots mingled with the loud exhaust of motorcycles in the crowded street. The situation was eventually contained through the combined efforts of local police and barangay peacekeepers, though a full investigation into the gunman’s identity remains ongoing.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
