Burned balloon vendor agrees to P35,000 settlement with culprits

While he still had doubts about whether he was making the right decision, a balloon vendor in Manila's Pandacan district who was badly burned due to a prank agreed to settle the matter for just P35,000, barangay officials said.

According to Cedric Castillo's Friday report on 24 Oras, the seven individuals who played the prank, five of whom were minors, were immediately brought to the barangay hall.

The pranksters, however, seemingly had no regrets over the injuries they had caused even after meeting balloon vendor Oliver Rosales.

"Sila kaya 'yung silaban, sunugin ng buhay, Kung gaano kasakit 'yung naramdaman ko noon. Buhay ko 'yung kapalit, eh," said Rosales.

"Kasi wala naman po ako'ng ginawa sa kanila tapos ginanun po nila ako," he added.

Security cameras recorded how the alleged miscreants set fire to Rosales' balloons while he was resting beside the barangay hall.

"Nakaganoon po ako, kasi po nakatali 'yung lobo po sa akin. Pag-idlip ko po bigla na po'ng nagliyab 'yung itaas. Kasi pagbagsak ng apoy, 'yung itaas 'yung lumiyab tapos nilamon na po ako nu'ng buong apoy," Rosales said.

According to Rosales, he used his right arm to protect his body when the fire engulfed him. He also kicked the burning balloons upward, injuring his leg, and used his hand to swat away burning plastic that landed on his head.

The prank burned a portion of Rosales' right arm, hand, and leg while some parts of his face and ears were singed.

Despite this, Oliver's father, Nicolas, said he pitied the culprits' parents.

"Naawa rin ako sa magulang, eh. Kasi, biro mo, 'yung pangkakain na lang nila, ibingay pa sa amin, alang-ala na lang sa mga anak nila. Pero 'yung mga bata naman hindi nila iniisip 'yung sakripisyong idinulot nila sa mga magulang nila," Nicolas said.

Meanwhile, a chemist said that the hydrogen used for balloons were susceptible to fire and could even explode.

"So pag sindi noong apoy, nag pop yung balloon, tapos since plastic or rubber 'yung mismong lobo, ang nangyari, pwedeng pumatak, mapatakan yung mga katabing lobo, so pumutok na rin," Rhett Tabbada said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News