Firecrackers injure 22; stray bullets hit 3

THE authorities have recorded a total of 22 victims of firecracker-related incidents, and three of stray bullets from December 21 until the New Year revelry in Zamboanga City.

The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) has recorded nine people injured by firecrackers explosion and three others, including a woman, were hit by stray bullets during the New Year revelry.

ZCPO officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Edwin De Ocampo, however, said the attending physicians have declared all of the victims “out of danger.”

The 13 other victims of firecracker-related incidents were recorded by the government-run Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) from December 21 until December 31.

The oldest among the victims of firecracker-related incidents is a 47-year-old fishing boat crew who lost three fingers to a “super lolo” firecracker.

Super lolo is an over-sized triangle-type of firecracker, which has been banned by authorities.

De Ocampo said the three stray bullet victims were identified as Robert Palces and Elvira Aurea, both of Mampang village, nine kilometers east of the city, and Jonathan Bacane of Tugbungan village, five kilometers east of the city.

Investigation showed that Palces was having a drinking spree with his friends around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday when he was hit by a stray bullet.

Aurea was sleeping when she was hit by a stray bullet that pierced through the roof of her house around 1:30 a.m. also Tuesday.

Bacane was also hit by a stray bullet while he was with some friends and family members around 1:50 a.m. Tuesday. (Bong Garcia)