Police: NorMin, Oro Christmas revelry peaceful

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By ALWEN SALIRING

POLICE officials on Thursday, December 27, said the zero Christmas revelry-related incidents can be attributed to the "maturity" and "discipline" of the people.

Superintendent Surki Serenas, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10), said Christmas celebration across the region was generally peaceful as no untoward incidents were recorded during the Christmas eve.

Serenas said authorities noted the zero fire cracker-related cases, zero stray bullet and zero fire incident.

"We attribute the tranquil Christmas eve to the maturity of the people. Gone are the times where your neighbors fire their M16's indiscriminately to welcome Christmas," Serenas said.

"Filipinos in general are law-abiding people. We tend to follow the law when it is strictly enforced. In the present situation, the prevailing martial law in Mindanao is significant harbinger of the mindset," he added.

Serenas also said "the regulatory laws, which have been there for years, empowered the state law enforcers to strictly implement the law. Hence, the common offenses and infractions of local ordinances have been brought to nil."

However, in Cagayan de Oro City, police investigators are looking into an alleged victim of firecracker.

Superintendent Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said a certain Aileen Anog, 34, resident of Zone 8 Bulua, this city, went to the JR Borja General Hospital to get treatment after she was allegedly blown off by a firecracker.

Investigation disclosed that the victim suddenly left the hospital when she was called for her turn for medical treatment.

Operatives also failed to locate the victim in the address written in the hospital record. Also, the victim did not report the incident to the police.

"We will investigate pero maglisod ta kung dili ma-locate ang victim," Hortillosa said.