16-yr.-old girl in Kalinga wounded by stray bullet on New Year’s Eve

Tabuk City, Kalinga – While indiscriminate firing is illegal in the Philippines, there are still those who discharge their guns, particularly during the New Year celebration.

Latest data from the Philippine National Police revealed that there were 27 indiscriminate firing incidents monitored this Holiday Season in the country. Among the victims of stray bullets caused by the prohibited act is a 16-year-old girl in Tabuk City, Kalinga.

The victim’s mother, Mariclaire Macanas Palma, told GURU Press Cordillera that between 12:00 – 12:05 a.m. on January 01, 2025, her 16-year-old daughter was sitting at the side of their gate in Purok 7, Bulanao, watching the fireworks display.

At that time, she suddenly felt a pang on her leg and turned to check if her cousin who was standing beside her kicked her, but the latter did not. Then the next thing she felt was numbness.

“Narikna na nga kasla nakuryente and then nag-numb diay saka na isu nga inkamakam na inmuneg,” the mother of the victim recounted.

When they checked her leg, that was when they found out she was hit by a stray bullet.

The mother of the 16-year-old was thankful her daughter was wearing jeans and that the bullet just grazed her skin. She added her daughter is fine, and that she hopes gun holders refrain from firing indiscriminately and that nobody will have to fall victim to stray bullets again.

As of January 2, the Department of Health Cordillera, recorded 42 fireworks-related injuries in the region – eight of them were from in Kalinga.