Filipinos across the nation ushered in the year 2026 with vibrant but largely orderly celebrations, as confirmed by the Philippine National Police (PNP). While traditional fireworks displays lit up the night sky, like the one in Imus City, Cavite, the overall peace and order situation remained stable with no major crimes or fatalities recorded during the holiday period.
PNP Data Reveals Scale of Holiday Monitoring
The PNP deployed a massive force of 67,254 personnel to ensure public safety from December 31, 2025, to January 1, 2026. This contingent included 34,579 police officers, 11,694 augmentation forces, and 20,981 members from advocacy groups. Their assignments were strategically spread across key areas to maximize visibility and response capability.
Police visibility was highest in areas of convergence, with 19,248 personnel deployed, followed by places of worship (12,687), motorist assistance hubs (12,210), tourist destinations (5,597), and transport hubs (4,891). Special attention was also given to 687 declared firecracker-free zones and 918 community fireworks display areas.
Injuries, Arrests, and Confiscations
Despite the generally peaceful atmosphere, the revelry was not without incident. The PNP recorded a total of 843 firecracker-related incidents that resulted in injuries to 183 individuals. Authorities arrested 26 people and seized a staggering 96,721 pieces of illegal firecrackers.
Other holiday-related incidents included:
- Two cases of indiscriminate firing, which injured one person, led to one arrest, and resulted in two confiscated firearms.
- Three fire incidents linked to pyrotechnics, injuring five people.
- Two road crashes that left four individuals injured.
"All cases were promptly responded to by police and emergency units, and no deaths were recorded during the coverage period," the PNP emphasized in its statement.
Zero Major Crimes and Other Police Accomplishments
A significant highlight of the report was the absence of any index crimes—such as murder, homicide, rape, robbery, theft, physical injury, or carnapping—during the New Year's coverage period. This underscored a stable security environment as the country celebrated.
Separate police operations conducted alongside the holiday security measures yielded further results. Law enforcers confiscated 61 loose firearms and arrested 132 individuals for various offenses, including violations related to illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and outstanding warrants.
Acting PNP chief, Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez, viewed the overall results positively. "These figures show that vigilance and early police action can significantly reduce risks during major celebrations," Nartatez stated, crediting the extensive preparation and public cooperation for the successful security operations.
The combination of strategic police deployment, public awareness campaigns on safe celebration, and enforcement actions against illegal pyrotechnics contributed to a New Year's welcome that was both joyful and secure for most Filipinos.
