New Year's Violence

The New Year started off with a bang in the Philippines. In one Cotabato town that bang was a grenade blast which killed one and injured five. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2020411/1-dead-5-injured-in-cotabato-town-carnival-blast

One person died while at least five others were wounded in a grenade explosion in a carnival here, minutes before the New Year.

Vice Mayor Ralph Ryan Rafael said the blast occurred at about 11:50 p.m. in a crowded carnival area in Sitio Condring, Barangay Marbel.

Police identified the blast fatality as Romel Presto Cabiso, a resident of Barangay Marbel.

The blast happened while revelers were preparing to welcome 2025.

Police personnel who immediately responded to the scene helped bring the injured victims to hospital.

“Sad to say, this heartbreaking incident happened just before the New Year – a time that should be filled with hope, joy, and togetherness,” Rafael said in a statement.

“The family of the victim deserves answers, and our community deserves to feel safe,” Rafael said.

“Let this be a reminder that peace is not the responsibility of one, but the duty of all. We must stand together, united by the desire for a safe and harmonious community,” Rafael added.

“I call on everyone to remain vigilant and supportive of efforts to strengthen security in our area,” Rafael further said.

What a way to ring in the New Year. No word on who tossed the grenade.

Two cousins were ringing in the New Year by drinking liquor. But then they got into an argument about a past argument and stabbed each other. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/614946/new-years-day-stabbing-kills-2-in-toledo-city

Two cousins shared liquor to welcome the new year.

But Lino, 50, and Berto, 45, ended up stabbing each other after one of them mentioned of a previous quarrel that they’ve had which started an argument that turned bloody on New Year’s Day, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilfredo Alarcon Jr., chief of Toledo City Police Station.

Lino’s brother, Andy, intervened and ended up killing their cousin Berto.

The stabbing incidents happened in Sitio Puro, Brgy. Lower Awihao in Toledo City at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

All of the three men were from Sitio Puro, Alarcon said.

The police chief said that Lino and Berto shared liquor on New Year’s Eve, but they later on argued over a past disagreement.

Alarcon said that Lino brought out the kitchen knife that he was carrying with him and tried to stabbed Berto.  However, Berto managed to grab the knife and stabbed Lino several times which caused his immediate death.

The commotion caught the attention of Andy, came to Lino’s rescue.  Andy, who was nearby, grabbed the knife from Berto and stabbed him several times.

Berto also died from multiple stab wounds on his body.

Toledo City police are currently preparing for the filing of a homicide charge against Andy, whom they arrested in his residence on Wednesday morning.

Funny that the police are filing homicide charges against Andy. Did they consult the family first?

A couple in Naga City began the New Year with a murder/suicide. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/614947/new-years-day-tragedy-in-naga-city-luzon-guard-stabs-wife-shoots-self

A security guard reportedly took his own life after stabbing his wife on New Year’s Day.

According to a report on Wednesday, January 1, Naga City police stated that Erick Candare shot himself in the head with a 9 mm firearm in Barangay Tinago around 8 a.m.

Initial investigation shows that before he killed himself, Candare stabbed his wife, Editha, 42, due to a misunderstanding in their house in Barangay Balatas around 6 a.m.

He went back to his workstation and told the on-duty security guard that he would kill himself, knowing he would be jailed for stabbing his wife.

The investigation is ongoing.

That is some kind of misunderstanding which can lead to such a tragic outcome. 

In Rizal a girl and her boyfriend were hacked to death just after midnight on New Year's. 

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/1/2/man-hacks-dead-stepdaughter-on-new-year-s-day-2301

A 19-year-old woman was killed after being attacked with a jungle bolo by her 44-year-old stepfather on January 1 in Brgy. Sta. Ana, Taytay, Rizal.

According to Taytay Police Chief Lt. Col. Marlo Solero, around 4 a.m. on New Year's Day, both the suspect and the victim hosted guests and celebrated in separate groups outside the house where they worked as caretakers.

"The suspect had a guest, then there was a drinking party and then there was also a group that was the victim's group with her boyfriend and then her other guests," Solero said.

The victim and the suspect got into a heated argument before the suspect followed the victim and her boyfriend with a jungle bolo, which the victim's family said they regularly use for farming.

"So when the boyfriend went out to buy a drink, the suspect followed him with his jungle bolo and slashed the victim several times. The cause of death was the blow to the head," Solero said.

The boyfriend tried to intervene but sustained injuries on his right arm. He is currently recovering in the hospital.

Eduardo Apostol, a subdivision guard who witnessed the incident, recounted seeing the suspect chasing her stepdaughter's boyfriend.

"Someone came out of the gate chasing, one with a brain and the other with a brain." "That guy might reach him. When he got to the road, the person holding the itak was out of balance and couldn't reach the victim," he said.

He witnessed the suspect fleeing as the man called for help. Moments later, the woman, covered in blood , was seen stumbling out of the subdivision gate before collapsing.

Apostol added that there was a trail of blood inside the subdivision near the gate.

"It means the woman has already been reached. The woman has been raped," he said.

The victim's aunt believes jealousy was the motive behind the attack and shared that the victim had confided in her about being harassed by the suspect.

"Reported "The kid is really mine..all I know is that he's just being jealous," she said.

The victim's mother and father expressed their anger.

"I want to kill him instead of my life." "If only he could," the mother said.

"He's so cowardly that he would kill the child without realizing it," the father said.

The police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who will face murder and frustrated murder charges.

Seems like he wanted to be much more than a stepfather. 

Two CAFGU members were murdered on New Year's. One was shot in the head at 12:01 a.m. after an argument while drinking.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2020525/cafgu-member-shot-dead-at-new-year-celebration-in-zamboanga-del-sur

A member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) was shot dead exactly at the turn of New Year 2025 in Barangay Poblacion, Sominot town, Zamboanga del Sur.

Bernardo Ganar, 35, resident of Midsalip town and detailed security of Sominot Mayor Johnriel Melo, was drinking with friends to celebrate the New Year when argued with a fellow drinker who shot him on the head at 12:01 a.m. on January 1.

Lt. Col. Rolando Vargas Jr., commander of the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion, said Ganar was rushed to a hospital in Pagadian City, but was declared dead by the attending physician.

Vargas said Ganar was also assigned to the Army’s Balunay detachment in Midsalip.

The Sominot police arrested a certain Jason, 51, who was identified as the gunman, according to Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office Director Col. Restituto Pangusban. The suspect is a resident of Sominot town.

The suspect is still being held at the Sominot Municipal Police Station for further investigation and for the filing of appropriate charges against him.

Another was stabbed in the armpit after being warned about his loud motorcycle pipe.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/2/cafgu-stabbed-dead-on-new-year-s-day

27-year-old member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary was allegedly stabbed to death by a carpenter on New Year’s Day in Purok Cubay, Barangay Santa Rosa, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Police Capt. Honey Labaro, deputy chief of the Murcia Municipal Police Station, said the 33-year-old suspect warned the victim about the noise of his open pipe motorcycle.

A heated argument ensued and the suspect stabbed the victim in the left armpit. The victim was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.

The murder weapon – a folding knife – was recovered in the crime scene and the suspect was arrested in pursuit operation.

At least these two CAFGU soldiers weren't killed by the NPA.

Despite all this violence the PNP says New Year's celebrations were "generally and relatively peaceful."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1240844

The Philippines welcomed 2025 in a "generally and relatively peaceful" way with no major untoward incidents, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

“As of 6 a.m. of January 1, reports reaching us indicate that New Year’s day was generally peaceful. We did not receive any report of any significant untoward incident. We have 1,360 recorded cases of illegal possession, use and sale of firecrackers,” PNP spokesperson and information chief Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo told reporters.

Fajardo said a total of 593,094 illegal firecrackers have been seized with an estimated value of PHP3,922,678 while 73 individuals were arrested.

The police also recorded 27 cases of indiscriminate firing that resulted in five injuries, while 21 persons were apprehended and 17 firearms were confiscated.

Of the 21 persons arrested, 18 were civilians while the rest are a security guard, a police officer from Calabarzon, and an officer of the Bureau of Corrections in Zamboanga Peninsula, said Fajardo.

There were also six stray bullet injuries, 297 firecracker-related injuries, and one death due to firecrackers.

Fajardo noted that the 27 cases of indiscriminate firing is higher than the 20 recorded last year, though the number of injuries was down to five from seven last year.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil previously ordered all police units across the country to prioritize public safety during the New Year celebrations

Isn't it great how the PNP says, "We did not receive any report of any significant untoward incident," and then goes on to list all the sampling of all the violence which occured ? And what is "significant?" A terrorist attack?