Girl`s death triggers gun debate in Philippines

[Reashot Xigwin]

MANILA, Philippines – A 7-year-old girl died Wednesday after being hit in the head by a stray bullet during New Year’s Eve revelry in the Philippines, heightening calls to halt one of Asia’s most violent celebrations of the new year.

Stephanie Nicole Ella was watching fireworks with her family in their working-class neighbourhood in Manila’s suburban Caloocan city when she suddenly collapsed, blood spurting from her head. As she fought for her life in a government hospital, watched by her stunned parents, extensive media coverage of her ordeal turned her into a symbol of widespread concern over the violent celebrations.

Nearly 700 people were injured by firecrackers, including many illegally large types, and by celebratory gunfire on the days leading to the new year despite government warnings and a crackdown on prohibited firecrackers and gun firing. A boy also died when he was accidentally shot in the back with a homemade shotgun by an intoxicated man in Mandaluyong city in the capital at the height of New Year’s revelry, police said, adding a suspect has been arrested.

At least 40 people were injured by stray bullets during the New Year revelries, according to police.

Stephanie, an award-winning student, “dreamed at a young age to become rich to help us,” her distraught father, Jay Ella, told reporters.

“This tragedy is a sobering reminder of how a reprehensible act from a thoughtless individual can rob our people, particularly our children, of their futures,” President Benigno Aquino III’s spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, said in a statement. “For such a promising life to be lost in such a senseless way puts the burden on all of us to make certain that this tragedy is not repeated.”

Many Filipinos, largely influenced by Chinese tradition, believe that noisy New Year’s celebrations drive away evil and misfortune. But they have carried that superstition to extremes, exploding dangerously huge firecrackers and firing guns to welcome the new year despite threats of arrest.

Although the number of injuries has tapered off in recent years, largely due to hard economic times and government scare campaigns, the figures remain alarming.

Child’s death in Philippines NYE shooting sparks call to ban violent celebrations | Metro


Thu, January 3 2013 18:29 |


"There should be no guns on the streets during these times."

Philippines VP Jejomar Binay. (tumblr)

Manila (ANTARA News/AFP) - The death of a girl hit by celebratory gunfire on New Year`s Eve sparked calls Thursday for stricter gun controls in the Philippines, where unlicensed weapons are widely blamed for rampant violence.

The girl, Stephanie Ella, aged seven, died Wednesday from a gunshot wound to the head, triggering outrage and condemnation of poor law enforcement that allows hundreds of thousands of unregistered firearms to be on the streets.

"This incident should not be allowed to become just another statistic," Vice President Jejomar Binay said in a statement.

"We have enough laws to penalise but the problem has always been in the enforcement of laws," he stressed, as he challenged the police to catch the person responsible for Ella`s death.

Ella and her father were watching a fireworks display outside their home in a Manila suburb on Monday when a bullet, apparently fired from celebratory gunfire, struck her.

Ella was the second young victim to die from stray bullets in New Year`s eve celebrations, when gun owners traditionally fire bullets into the air or explode powerful firecrackers to make noise.

A four year-old boy was also killed, while a 16-year-old was in a coma after being wounded in a similar incident.

Ella`s ordeal, however, was prominently covered in national media, as her grief-stricken parents tensely waited by her hospital bedside as doctors lost the battle to save her.

An outpouring of sympathy followed, led by the office of President Benigno Aquino -- himself a keen sports shooter -- which issued a statement condemning her senseless death.

Prominent anti-crime crusader Dante Jimenez said the government should impose "a total gun ban during the holidays" and not only during elections, when rival politicians are known to engage in blood feuds.

"There should be no guns on the streets during these times. That is the only way," he said.

However, he said the bigger problem was the failure of the authorities to seize all illegal firearms in the face of mounting violence.

There were 1.2 million registered firearms in the Philippines as of last year, according to data from the police firearms and explosives office.

It said there were another roughly 600,000 unlicensed firearms in circulation across the Philippines.

While carrying an unlicensed firearm is punishable by up to six years in prison, it remains relatively easy to acquire guns in the black market, Jimenez said.
(U.A061/H-AK)

Editor: Priyambodo RH

COPYRIGHT © 2013

Antara News : Girl`s death triggers gun debate in Philippines


My condolences to the Victim and the Victim family.

 

[Zero_wing]

Other chinese trying to destroy the Philippines in the face of the world! Well it did happen but i say this about it its tragic and some of the things in the article is wrong one she got shot in the head by stray bullet so its tragic so no one can be sure were it hits.

stop being pusses and get back to debates on the West Philippine Sea or saying dirt on other countries is they best you people can do?

 

[Skull and Bones]

There are many illegal home made gun factories in Philippines, and they do make some nice guns.

 

[Zero_wing]

There are many illegal home made gun factories in Philippines, and they do make some nice guns.

Well never run out guns just bullets my uncle who's in the army use to say! But anyway this just a new year thing some people especially owners of loose firearms who loves to show how bad @$$ they are! Tragic because its kid who was just celebrating new years eve with her family again very tragic i fell so sad about it the girl reminds me of my cute cousin same age too just so sad.

 

[Skull and Bones]

Well never run out guns just bullets my uncle who's in the army use to say! But anyway this just a new year thing some people especially owners of loose firearms who loves to show how bad @$$ they are! Tragic because its kid who was just celebrating new years eve with her family again very tragic i fell so sad about it the girl reminds me of my cute cousin same age too just so sad.

My condolence to the kids family.

I meant having gun is good, but having some sort of responsibility is even more important. A strict gun control is must in every civilized society.

 

[Zero_wing]

My condolence to the kids family.

I meant having gun is good, but having some sort of responsibility is even more important. A strict gun control is must in every civilized society.

True the problem here is loose firearms the Government is on it but the public should do its part that's the problem here the public don't report out of fear of the person holding the gun second is some people don't renew their licenses unlike us responsible gun owners but the government is on this too but the problem is cooperation with the public. The public must cooperate with authorities.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

Other chinese trying to destroy the Philippines in the face of the world! Well it did happen but i say this about it its tragic and some of the things in the article is wrong one she got shot in the head by stray bullet so its tragic so no one can be sure were it hits.

stop being pusses and get back to debates on the West Philippine Sea or saying dirt on other countries is they best you people can do?

I'm not Badmouthing Philippines. I just post a news article that said a little girl just died because of Philippines almost non existent gun law. A girl get shot because some guy fired his gun when he's stone cold drunk. A strict gun control should be implemented in the Philippines to make sure this never happens again.

 

[ahfatzia]

A man with domestic problems fatally shot eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, after taking alcohol and drugs in a rampage Friday

Gunman kills 8, including pregnant woman and children, in Philippines shooting rampage - CBS News


No use for the Filipinos to bury their heads in the sand. They'll just have to admit there's a big problem with the guns and the gun laws and find ways to change this social illness.

 

[Zero_wing]

A man with domestic problems fatally shot eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, after taking alcohol and drugs in a rampage Friday

Gunman kills 8, including pregnant woman and children, in Philippines shooting rampage - CBS News


No use for the Filipinos to bury their heads in the sand. They'll just have to admit there's a big problem with the guns and the gun laws and find ways to change this social illness.

Wow see using this tragedy to get your sick kick same on you! mainlander

I'm not Badmouthing Philippines. I just post a news article that said a little girl just died because of Philippines almost non existent gun law. A girl get shot because some guy fired his gun when he's stone cold drunk. A strict gun control should be implemented in the Philippines to make sure this never happens again.

Ok i take your word for it! Anyway according to reports the police have pin point the areas of the potential shooter but this is a stray bullet case this is a hard one even for the most advance country 2nd world country like us would take time to find the real mindless criminal not to mention its a loose fire arm.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

Ok i take your word for it! Anyway according to reports the police have pin point the areas of the potential shooter but this is a stray bullet case this is a hard one even for the most advance country 2nd world country like us would take time to find the real mindless criminal not to mention its a loose fire arm.

Hope they catch the bastard. 40 people got wounded during Philippines NYE in Manila by firecrackers and gun. The government ought to put stricter Gun law.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

Gun culture

SKETCHES By Ana Marie Pamintuan (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 7, 2013 - 12:00am

With several children dead or critically wounded and at least five adults also killed by guns in less than a week, we’re hearing noises about tighter gun control.

At the start of the year we must think positive: maybe security officials will tighten the requirements for issuing gun licenses, and improve ballistics record keeping and other ways of tracing guns. Maybe Customs personnel will intensify efforts to stop gun smuggling.

Will the measures be sustained? I’m not holding my breath.

There’s the usual call, though not too loud, for a total gun ban. Maybe Pinoys are realistic enough to realize that this isn’t going to happen – not while there are too many armed thugs out there, among them communist extortionists, Abu Sayyaf bandits, kidnappers, bank robbers, rogue cops and, as we saw last week, drunken loonies with a gun. And not while lawmen cannot guarantee public safety.

In Mindanao where there is a strong gun culture, the bond between gun and man will remind you of those Calvin Klein ads of yesteryears: nothing comes between me and my…

Pinoys also see that a total gun ban is unthinkable under the watch of a President who owned 22 guns upon assuming office in 2010, and who has just appointed his former mentor in marksmanship as the chief of the Philippine National Police.

In gun ownership we prefer to be like America, although to a lesser degree – bearing arms is not a right guaranteed under our Constitution. This may be why we are also like America in the high incidence of armed violence.

We know how easy it is for civilians to obtain a gun and have it licensed in the United States. There are numerous gun shows, and you can buy a gun even in a pawnshop. Compared with us, however, the Americans have a more efficient computerized system of keeping track of guns – those that are registered, anyway.

In our country, there are administrative orders supposedly limiting the number of guns and the calibers that can be owned by civilians. But there are exemptions, and it’s not unusual, especially for people in positions of influence or with the right connections, to maintain mini arsenals at home, legally.

You can buy a gun from a licensed importer, or from the military and police if you have a good reason and you know the right people.

Part of registration is firing the gun several times and leaving at least one spent shell and slug with the police Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO). This ballistics record can then be checked when the cops are trying to trace a weapon used in a crime.

Record keeping has improved a bit in recent years. A gun license is a good way to keep tabs on citizens. It requires a verifiable address and contact number plus detailed personal information. Anyone who bothers to obtain a gun license through the normal process will think twice before using the gun for illegal activities. The personal information is updated regularly with the license renewal, and the fee is not cheap.

But there are too many loose firearms out there, including licensed ones whose owners die or go abroad and ownership is transferred, without new registration.

Firearms seized by the military and police can be pilfered and passed on to buyers or used for crime. The Magnum .357 that was found beside Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.’s alleged assassin Rolando Galman was originally seized from a Tsinoy civilian at a checkpoint during martial law. It was briefly issued as a service firearm to a Manila cop before it was returned to Camp Crame.

Guns are big business, and if you subscribe to English philosopher Thomas Hobbes’ cynical view that war is a natural state of man, it’s a business that will never have to file for bankruptcy.

The weapons industry is certainly doing brisk business in the Philippines – whether legally through licensed importers, or illegally through smuggling and the not-so-clandestine gunsmiths of Danao in Cebu. Since everyone looks the other way when it comes to Danao, perhaps the government should just turn the underground operation into a legitimate enterprise, provide technical support for product development, assist in finding export markets, and then make the manufacturers pay taxes.

In August 2009, Coast Guard and Customs authorities intercepted a Panamanian-registered ship, the M/V Captain Ufuk, with its cargo of 54 assault rifles stored in five crates, plus a yacht where the cargo was unloaded off Mariveles in Bataan.

Smuggling charges were later filed against 37 people, 18 of them foreigners including the South African captain and his crew of mostly Georgians, while several Britons were identified along with Filipinos as owners and crew of the yacht, the M/Y Mou Man Tai.

Philippine officials said the guns were apparently ordered by politicians ahead of the 2010 general elections. Islamic militants and communist rebels were also eyed.

Initially reported as Israeli-made Galils, the caliber 5.56 SS1-V1 assault rifles, 120 gun magazines and 45 bayonets turned out to be made by Indonesia’s state-owned military equipment manufacturer PT Pindad. An investigation by Jakarta showed that Pindad was authorized by their Ministry of Defense and Ministry of State Enterprises to export the weapons, valued at P100 million, to a shooting club in the Philippines, with an end-user certificate issued by the Philippine government.

The ship captain was reportedly hired by a South African and several Filipino partners to buy the Ufuk in Turkey for $800,000. The Georgians were also recruited in Turkey.

Reports at the time said the Philippines was being used as a transshipment point for guns made in Southeast Asia and sold illegally in countries such as Japan where crime families are active.

A year ago the Bureau of Customs tried to sell the Ufuk for P35 million – down from the initial bidding floor price of P89 million – because the bureau was paying P350,000 for the ship’s monthly maintenance in Manila’s South Harbor. I’m not sure if the ship was sold.

As for those guns from Jakarta, where are they now? And where are the contents of the 15 empty crates found when the Ufuk was seized? This was one shipment that was intercepted. How many others have entered our porous borders? Local executives are supposed to monitor coastlines together with the Coast Guard. But what if the guns are smuggled in by local politicians themselves?

After the Maguindanao massacre in 2009, we saw all those guns in crates with defense department markings that were seized from the mansions of the Ampatuan clan.

The massacre should have prompted tighter gun control. It didn’t. Will it be different this time? The political will isn’t there.

Gun culture | Opinion, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com