The Police Regional Office in Davao Region (PRO-Davao) has documented several dangerous incidents over the recent holiday period, including a case of a stray bullet and multiple injuries caused by firecrackers.
Stray Bullet Strikes Woman in Hagonoy
A 56-year-old woman in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, became a victim of a stray bullet on Christmas night. The incident took place around midnight on December 25, 2025, in Purok 5, Barangay Malabang. According to PRO-Davao spokesperson Police Major Catherine Dela Rey, the victim was asleep when she was awakened by a loud noise from her ceiling and immediately felt pain in her right thigh.
Initially thinking a rock had hit the roof, she went back to sleep. The shooting was only reported to authorities the following afternoon, on December 26. Police officers who responded to the call successfully recovered a bullet slug from the scene.
"The victim went for a medical check-up the following day, and we also needed confirmation from the city health office," Dela Rey stated during the Kapehan sa Dabaw forum held at SM City Davao on Monday, January 5, 2026. The victim sustained a minor injury. As of the report, investigators have not yet identified or arrested the person responsible for the reckless firing.
Firecracker Injuries and Confiscations Across the Region
Beyond the shooting, PRO-Davao also reported a total of four separate injuries linked to firecrackers. These incidents were recorded in:
- The Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) in Davao del Norte (2 injuries)
- Boston, Davao Oriental (1 injury)
- Mati City, Davao Oriental (1 injury)
In a related crackdown, authorities confiscated twelve firecracker items. Ten of these confiscation cases occurred within Davao City, leading to the arrest of five individuals. The remaining cases involved minors. Two additional confiscations were made in Davao del Norte.
Comparing to Previous Year's Holiday Statistics
PRO-Davao recalled that during the previous year's holiday season, the region experienced two stray bullet incidents with more severe outcomes. On January 4, 2025, a 19-year-old student from Panabo City died after being hit by a stray bullet on New Year's Eve. In another case on January 1, a 22-year-old man from Sulop, Davao del Sur, suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder while riding his motorcycle.
For firecracker-related injuries, the Department of Health–Davao reported six cases across the region for the 2024 holiday period. Those incidents were located in Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Davao Oriental. Notably, authorities recorded no injuries in Davao City, Davao del Sur, or Davao Occidental at that time.
The latest reports from PRO-Davao highlight the ongoing public safety challenges during festive celebrations, despite repeated warnings against the illegal discharge of firearms and the use of dangerous firecrackers.
