CEBU, Philippines - A 13-year-old boy landed in the hospital on New Year's Day after he was hit by a stray bullet while cycling his way home in Consolacion town.

Police Officer 1 Peter Joseph Santillan said the boy, Johnrey Ancero Jr., is now on stable condition.

Ancero was riding his bicycle with two other friends in Barangay Jugan when the bullet hit his right shoulder.

Santillan said they have identified people who may have fired guns at that time.

"Pag adto namo sa area dili mo-cooperate ang mga tawo didto maybe nahadlok… nana mi mga names nga possible nagpabuto but nagpaabot pa mi sa kun unsa nga bala ang gigamit sa pagpamusil for examination," he said.

He said they are mindful of the recent directive from Camp Crame that cases involving indiscriminate firing must be resolved within 24 hours.

PRO-7 Director Noli Taliño said the directive on stray bullet cases states that the police station chief of the local government unit where the incident occurred will be relieved if the office cannot solve two incidents of indiscriminate firing within 24 hours.

If two police chiefs are relieved, the chief of the city police or provincial police office will also be relieved. If two police office directors are relieved, the regional police director will also be relieved.

Prior to the New Year, one stray bullet case was reported in Bogo City on December 23 and another in Mandaue City on December 25.

"All victims are in stable condition," said Superintendent Arnel Banzon, deputy for operations and plans division of the Police Regional Office 7. — /JMO (FREEMAN)