Robredo admits limited time vs drive on indiscriminate gun firing

MANILA, Philippines - Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday cited the limited time in the implementation of the campaign against indiscriminate firing and the establishment of special firecracker zones for the 30 victims of stray bullets during the last holiday season.

Robredo said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) would start as early as this month to prepare safety measures for the next Yuletide season.

“Medyo hindi nakapaghanda (there was lack of preparation) this year. We will start the preparation this January for December, medyo malayu-layo na (even if it’s still far off),” Robredo told a press conference.

The 30 cases of indiscriminate firing included eight incidents in Metro Manila, three in Central Luzon, two in Southern Mindanao and one in Central Mindanao. Five suspects were arrested for indiscriminate firing.

“The DILG and the PNP could not impose the ban on firecrackers unless there is a national law or local ordinance,” Robredo explained.

“I think we will just have to manage the problem, and the health department should not be the agency accountable for the number of firecracker victims. It is clear that those who have accountability are the mayors and barangay chairmen.”

Robredo said the Department of Health (DOH) was in charge of monitoring the indiscriminate firing of guns because of the casualties.

He said he would coordinate with Health Secretary Enrique Ona to let the mayors and barangay chairmen do the job.

Robredo said the DOH will remain the agency to handle the technical advisory on victims of stray bullets but the local government units should implement the programs.

“The LGUs – mayors and barangay chairmen – could initiate programs – whether a total gun ban or firecracker zones,” said Robredo.

He also said that there should be a review on the types of firecrackers, since the seemingly harmless piccolo was the cause of almost 40 percent of injuries last year.

Firecracker injuries decline

The DOH yesterday observed a decline in the overall number of Yuletide-related injuries recorded nationwide.

Data from the DOH-National Epidemiology Center (NEC) showed that there were 891 cases of fireworks and stray bullet injures and poisoning from fireworks ingestion since Dec. 21.

NEC director Dr. Eric Tayag noted that during the 2009 celebration, the department had recorded 982 injures from fireworks, 45 cases of stray bullet injuries and one fireworks ingestion. The record showed that there was a decline of 137 cases in 2010 compared to the 2009 revelry.

Tayag had reiterated the DOH’s calls for those who suffered burns and wounds from fireworks to see a doctor before tetanus sets in.

“It is important for them to be treated properly. Fireworks injuries are considered serious and are prone to tetanus,” he added.

Tetanus is a serious condition caused by tetanus bacteria that lives in soil, saliva, dust and manure.

It is characterized by painful tightening of the muscles, leading to locking of the jaw. When this happens, the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow, thus, he will die of suffocation.

Tayag said that tetanus manifests usually three to four weeks after the injury.

He added that the DOH would be having a tetanus watch until end of January and would keep its hospitals on alert for possible tetanus cases among victims of fireworks blasts.

Police said 80 percent of the injured victims in Central Luzon used banned firecrackers.

The police also reported that Leonardo Reyes, 54, of Sitio Bangag, Barangay General Lim in Orion, Bataan, and Imelda Cayanan, 75, of Barangay Sta. Monica in Masantol, Pampanga, were hit by stray bullets last New Year’s Eve.

They were brought to hospital for treatment even as no suspect has yet been arrested.

The police identified banned products like watusi, sparklers and piccolo, pla-pla, five-star, goodbye Philippines and five star as the cause of most of the injuries.

Reports received yesterday by Camp Olivas noted over 80 percent more cases of firecracker injuries in the last Christmas season, compared to the previous Yuletide holidays.

“No less than 225 cases of injuries since last December up to last New Year’s Day were reported from the various provinces in Central Luzon,” the report said.

Pampanga topped the list with at least 75 injuries, followed by Bulacan with 53 cases, Tarlac with 34, Nueva Ecija with 30, Angeles City with 15, Bataan with 13, Zambales with four and Olongapo City with three.

The DOH office for Central Luzon said that based on the five-year average number of pyrotechnic injuries in the region, the number of recent injuries was also higher by 19 percent, but noted this was lower than the injuries recorded in 2008.

The DOH said, however, that statistics on injuries in the last holidays could still go up, as more reports are expected from the field up to Jan. 5.

Dr. Michael Canto, spokesman for government-owned Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC), said they had 43 blast injury patients compared to prior year’s 48.

“But 43 is 43, our center chief is still sad because our zero casualty goal was not achieved,” he said.

He said this is probably because of the tradition of Filipinos in greeting the New Year with a big bang.

Canto said to achieve zero blast injury victim, there should be no-nonsense concerted efforts, which includes total ban in the sale of pyrotechnics. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Ding Cervantes, Eva Visperas, Non Alquitran