Cotabato City records zero firecracker, stray bullet injuries

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — There were no firecracker or gun-related accidents in Cotabato City during the 2018 Eid’l Fitr, Christmas and New Year revelries, a record that the city has kept since 2011.

Cotabato City residents, many of whom have a love for guns, have a strong tradition of using firecrackers and ammunition to celebrate holidays but hospitals on Tuesday confirmed nobody was admitted for firecracker-related injuries. Nobody was hit by stray bullets either.

There were cases of serious gunshot cases and firecracker accidents in Cotabato City during holidays in years prior to 2011.

Superintendent Rolly Octavio, city police director, said the four local police precincts reported Monday that no one was hurt by a firecracker blast or a stray bullet in the barangays here in December.

Two popular radio stations here, the Catholic dxMS and dxMY of the Radio Mindanao Network, both reported on Tuesday morning that there was indeed a zero firecracker accident during the recent holidays, quoting a statement from the Cotabato City police office.

Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, chairperson of the Cotabato City inter-agency peace and order council, said Tuesday she was elated with the reports that nobody got injured.

The mayor had earlier warned that constituents caught firing a gun or using firecrackers would face prosecution.