ILOILO CITY ,Philippines – Christmas was celebrated peacefully in Western Visayas with only one incident involving pyrotechnics recorded, according to records of the Police Regional Office-6.
Senior Insp. Sally Manuel, PRO-6 public information officer, said the incident happened at Brgy. Sta. Filomena in Arevalo district of this city involving a 40-year-old man.
Reports said that Jonel Abastillas sustained 1st-degree burns on his face, chest, palms and thighs while testing a fountain he made near his house Saturday morning. The firecracker went off rather prematurely, and the victim now under treatment at the Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital.
Senior Supt. Marietto Valerio, Iloilo City Police Office director, also reported no report of illegal discharge of firearm during the Christmas Eve revelries, adding that the ICPO campaign for a peaceful Christmas celebration paid off.
The zero incident could be attributed to the people’s awareness of taking safety measures when using firecrackers and pyrotechnics, said Valerio but he said the police are bracing for the New Year celebration where people’s revelry would not be complete without the firecrackers.
Meanwhile, ICPO recorded at least three incidents a day before and during the Christmas Day celebration.
First was a mauling-stabbing incident in Molo district during the Christmas Eve; second was an akyat-bahay incident early morning of December 25 at Jaro district; and third was a shooting incident among three security guards of two stores in the city early morning of December 24.
Security guard Larry Caballero, 35, detailed at a furniture store, and Hernani Sicola, 36, guarding a motorcycle store, were shot by Larry Lozada, a guard at an adjacent building, with a .38 caliber revolver.