Woman hit by stray bullet during Christmas revelry

A 27-year-old woman was hit and wounded by a stray bullet during the Christmas celebrations in Carcar town.

In a report over TV Patrol Central Visayas, Janice Aleonar, a resident of Poblacion, Carcar, was the only victim by a stray bullet during the Christmas celebrations in the province.

Aleonar was about to sleep past 1:00 a.m. on Christmas day when she noticed that blood flowed down from her left ear. However, the Carcar police failed to identify the caliber used in the firing during the Christmas celebrations.

Sandy Aleonar, husband of the victim, said his wife was lucky enough to be hit by the stray bullet only in her ear.

During last year's Christmas celebrations, at least three people were hit by stray bullets in the cities of Cebu, Danao and Lapu-Lapu and police authorities failed to arrest anyone behind the incidents.

Department of Health regional director Susana Madarieta has urged the public to use only "torotot" during the revelry to avoid injury or casualty.

Last December 25, only 11 persons injured in firecracker explosions were brought to Cebu City Medical Center. The youngest victim was identified as seven-year-old Daphne Alidon, while the oldest was 53-year-old Virgilio Romero.

Seriously injured was 15-year-old Julius Caralde, a resident of Nazareth, Buhisan, who was injured when a firecracker accidentally exploded inside his pocket.

Based on a DOH report, Central Visayas recorded at least 179 firecracker victims last year, with Cebu City has the most number of victims with 99.

The cities Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue ranked next with 22 cases of firecracker victims each. Talisay City had 10 cases while Consolacion town recorded eight.

About 17 firecracker victims in Central Visayas were amputated last year. Of that figure, nine victims came from Cebu City. - Ramil V. Ayuman