CEBU, Philippines – Police in three metro cities described the New Year revelries "peaceful" despite a fatal shooting in Lapu-Lapu City and several reported cases of firecracker injuries.
In Lapu-Lapu, a certain Edwin Carsillas, 37, was shot dead by unidentified assailant around 12:30 a.m. on January 1 near a shanty in Sitio Proper, Barangay Buaya, according to Police Officer 3 Joseph Rouel Cutanda of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office-Homicide Section.
Investigation revealed that Carsillas was walking along the side of the road when the suspect went near and shot him once.
The victim, who was formerly detained at the city jail for frustrated homicide charges, sustained gunshot wound on the left side of his cheek with the bullet exiting through his right cheek. He died on the spot.
"Naa ni siya'y (Carsillas) paliton nga butang.Anha siya gipusil sa usa ka shanty. On-bail ni siya sa kaso sa frustrated homicide last 2014," Cutanda said.
Cutanda added the victim may have been involved in using or selling drugs.
Residents learned of the shooting quite late due to the New Year celebrations.No empty shell was found at the crime scene.
Despite this, Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, acting director of LCPO, said the city's New Year revelry was peaceful in general.
Radoc told The FREEMAN that at least seven persons were taken to Lapu-Lapu City Hospital after suffering firecracker-related injuries.
Charles Ymbong, head nurse at the hospital, said cases involving three adults and four minors were recorded.The youngest was around 9 years old while the oldest was 49 years old.
Three of the seven patients were sent to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for further treatment.The remaining four were treated in the city's hospital and are now in safe condition.
Found dead
A man was also found dead in Sitio Ylaya, Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City on Friday morning.
The unidentified body was initially found along the shores of an abandoned resort by a fisherman named Elco Daño, who was reportedly about to go fishing that day.
Cutanda said they are still investigating the case, with a suicide note found with the body as their lead.
"Nagpalumos siya sa dagat ug dunay suicide note nakit-an nga murag nanamilit ug nagpasalamat," he said.
The suicide note was reportedly found in one of the man's pockets.
Police said the man had short blonde hair, was only identified wearing black pants, striped sweat shirt and was around five feet and three inches tall.
Cutanda said the body was sent to Surelife Funeral Homes for autopsy.As of press time yesterday, the body was still unclaimed.
Confiscations
Still in Lapu-Lapu City, an estimated P40,680 worth of illegal pyrotechnic explosives were seized in Barangays Babag and Calawisan.
Police Senior Inspector Mark Gifter Sucalit, chief of City Intelligence Branch, said the confiscations were made from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Among the items seized were seven boxes of Piccolo worth P7,500; 112 pieces of coil family worth P13,440; 12 pieces of Yolanda firecrackers worth P1,440 and another 12 pieces of Dalugdog worth P450.
Later, police also confiscated another 99 pieces of firecrackers worth P7,920, which were made from canned sardines; 956 super whistle bomb worth P7,680; and nine pieces of Goodbye Philippines worth P2,250.
This was the third time Barangay Babag was raided and second time for Calawisan.
"Naa gyud magpalusot ug mamaligya og illegal nga pabuto kay mas halinon man siya," Sucalit said.
Sucalit said the illegal pyrotechnic sellers has licenses but police are yet to verify whether those permits have expired or not.
He said the destruction of the seized items will be made at the Police Regional Office-7 tomorrow (Monday).
Meanwhile, except for four cases of firework-related injuries, Christmas and New Year revelries in Mandaue City were "generally peaceful," according to the Mandaue City Police Office.
"Generally okay, peaceful ra man.Gawas sa biktima sa fireworks. Pinisik-pisik ra pud sa kamot. Other than that, negative," said Police Officer 2 Reynante Lukay-lukay of MCPO.
Lukay-lukay said there were four victims of fireworks, three last Christmas and one on New Year's Day. But he said these were just "minor" incidents.
He said all MCPO personnel were on alert during the holidays. He added that apart from the literal noise from firecrackers and other noisemakers, the whole city was peaceful.
Stray bullet?
In Talisay City, a stray bullet believed to have been fired during the celebration of New Year was found at a house on Burgos Street, Barangay Poblacion last Friday morning.
Francis Tayong, 52, resident of said place, reported the incident to Talisay City police upon his discovery of the deformed slug.
Tayong told the police officers that when he was looking for something, he found an unidentified bullet in their kitchen. He also found a bullet hole on their ceiling.
Tayong,however, was thankful that nobody from his family got harmed.
Police Officer 1 Othelo Largo of Talisay City police said a person may have discharged his firearm and fired to the sky. He said the bullet found was subject for further checking.
Stray 'crackers
Police also said at least two men were injured after stray "kwitis" hit them in Talisay City during the New Year merriment.
Rainer Monceda, 27, resident of Barangay San Isidro, sustained injury on his right eye when he was hit by a stray kwitis past 12 midnight of January 1.
Few minutes later, James Anthony Paunil, 24, single, resident of Barangay Lagtang, was rushed toTalisay City District Hospital after he was also hit by a stray "kwitis" on his right thigh.
Largo said both victims went outside their house to witness the firecrackers from air when suddenly some "kwitis" hit them. Kwitis is a firecracker that zooms up to the air when ignited.
Largo said they are having a hard time identifying the culprits since many residents were using firecrackers that time.
In Barangay Biason, an eight year-old boy nearly got his hand amputated when a firecracker exploded on him.
Police identified the victim as Kenneth Pantinople, resident of said place.
Largo said the victim, together with his friends, was having fun when Pantinople picked an unknown firecracker which flopped and exploded in his left hand.
Largo said the victim was rushed to Talisay City District Hospital but was later transferred to VSMMC.
"Sa akong tan-aw, posibleng maputlan og kamot ang bata tungod sa ka grabe sa kadaot sa pabuto nga niigo sa bata. Ambot lang kay wala man sa'y makatug-an namo og unsa gyud tong pabutoha ang nakadisgrasya sa bata," said Largo. – Liv G. Campo AND Gabriel C. Bonjoc (FREEMAN)