All over Region 7 since X-Mas: Bullets hurt 5, pyros maim 69

CEBU, Philippines – A total of 69 people, including a one-month-old child were injured by types of firecrackers in Central Visayas from December 24, 2015 up to yesterday, while five people were hurt by stray bullets. Majority of these cases were recorded in Cebu.

Based on the data released by the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health-7, the number of people injured during the said period was roughly the same from December 24, 2014 to January 2, 2015.

The recent data shows that of the 74 victims, 51 of these suffered blast or burn injuries but did not need amputation. Sixteen were injured in the eye, five were victims of stray bullets, one was injured due to firecra-cker ingestion and another was injured due to blasts or burns but did not need amputation.

The stray bullet victims were from barangays Capitol Site, Duljo-Fatima and Talamban, all in Cebu City, and Barangay Canduman in Mandaue City and Barangay Sta. Cruz in Bac-layon, Bohol.

Data shows that the most common firecrackers used were kwitis, thunder, whistle bomb, bigs, fountain, piccolo, Judas belt, sparkler, baby rocket and triangle.

At least 10 cases were reported wherein the victims were drunk.The data added that the victims were mostly male (78 percent) while the female victims comprised 22 percent.

Fifty-two percent of the victims were injured at home while the rest were victimized in the streets.

Generally Peaceful

Despite having cases of stray bullets and firecracker explosions victimizing civilians during the New Year’s Eve, the Cebu City Police Office still assessed that the celebration of the said occasion was generally peaceful.

Chief Inspector David Señor, chief of the Police Community Relations-Branch, said it is still safe to spend New Year in Cebu City considering that policemen are doing their job seriously to maintain peace and order in the community.

“Dili man siya ingon nga alarming. It is still manageable. Peaceful gihapon,” said Señor.

Police reports differed from DOH figures when it came to stray bullet injuries, showing four incidents recorded around the Cebu City area during the New Year’s Eve. Three of the bullets hit people, including a minor, while another bullet hit no one.

At around 11:45 p.m. last Thursday in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, 22-year-old Joname Diaz was rushed to a hospital after she was hit by a stray bullet in her right thigh while walking home.

A few minutes into 2016, a 12-year-old girl was also brought to the hospital after her left foot was hit by a stray bullet while she was watching a fireworks display outside their house in Barangay Capitol Site.

At 12:15 a.m. last Friday, employees of a hotel along Junquera Street, Cebu City, were shocked after a stray bullet tore into one of their guest rooms from the roof. The occupants of the room, an Australian national and a Filipina, were not hit.

However, an hour later in Barangay Mabini, ano-ther woman was brought to a hospital after a stray bullet hit her in the neck while she was in her house.

Police said all of the victims are now in a stable condition. Señor said they are now working on identifying the people who fired the bullets.

“Mao na among giapas karon. Ang pagtug-an sa community kung kinsa to ang nipabuto sa ilang mga armas,” said Señor.

Señor also said at least P60,000 worth of prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices were confiscated by policemen all around the Cebu City area.

Heavier Penalties

Meanwhile, Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella condemned the dangerous practice of firing guns during holiday revelries and plans to ask the country’s legislature to amend the provision of the Revised Penal Code containing the laws for indiscriminate firing.

“There is a compelling need to request the Congress to revisit the provisions of the Revised Penal Code particularly on (the crime of) alarm and scandal because firing a gun, it can already be punishable under that (but) the penalty is very light,” said Labella.

Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code under Alarms and Scandals provides “any person who within any town or public place, shall discharge any firearm, rocket, firecracker, or other explosives calculated to cause alarm or danger” shall be meted the penalty of one day to thirty days in prison or a fine not exceeding P200.

Labella suggested that there should be a special law on indiscriminate firing to be enacted under the House of Representatives providing penalties for serious and grave offense, not only for light offenses.

“At present, the penalty is relatively light so I would like to urge Congress to revisit (the law) so that people will not indiscriminately fire their guns,” he said.

Labella further said that more stringent sanctions should be provided to personnel working in public service if found responsible.

“If it is committed by a public officer like a police officer, it will be considered as qualifying aggravating circumstance that the penalty is heavier than it is being done by a civilian,” he said.

Despite the reported crimes, Labella assessed the New Year’s celebration in terms of securing order in the city as “generally peaceful” with less accidents related to firecracker use.

“I think people have already realized the dangers of firecrackers… I am glad that although there are few incidents recorded but the community now realized the dangers of using firecrackers,” he said, attributing it to the city’s intensive campaign against fireworks and pyrotechnic devices.

  Meanwhile, the Eco Waste Coalition, a civil society partner of the DOH in its yearly “Iwas Paputok” campaign, urged the government to declare an all-out war against the banned piccolo firecracker, the top cause of firecracker-related injuries in the country.

The coalition likewise urged lawmakers to enact a total ban on firecrackers to stop the practice of ushering in the New Year with bloodied hands, smoggy atmosphere and garbage-strewn surroundings.

 The coalition added that a total ban on firecrackers will be in favor of the constitutionally-protected rights of the people to health and to a balanced and healthful ecology. — /BRP (FREEMAN)