Two children killed, hundreds more injured in New Year-related accidents

A “24 Oras” report said nine-year old John Vincent Gonzales died Jan. 1 after playing with gunpowder from unexploded firecrackers outside his family’s sari-sari store in Nueva Ecija’s Cabanatuan City.   Two of his playmates, 10-year-old Roel Pobre and nine-year-old Richard Rivas, sustained injuries from the same explosion.   “'Yung diyaryo po, nilagyan po ng luces, bigla po sumabog 'yung ‘Goodbye Philippines,’” said Gonzales’s playmate.   “Inipon daw po ‘yung pulbura ng paputok, inano daw po sa lalagyanan ng 'Fountain,'” a neighbor added.     Stray bullets hit the young and innocent   Another child was killed when a stray bullet hit her in Binondo, Manila. According to a separate “24 Oras” report, seven-year-old Angelita Dela Cruz was standing outside her family’s house when a 9-mm bullet pierced her chest and killed her almost instantly. The girl’s mother, Cristina Dela Cruz, said they still have no idea where the bullet came from. “Karamihan po kasi dito sa 'min puro pulis, puro bagong pulis,” she said.   In tears, Angelita’s grandfather appealed to the person who may have killed his granddaughter to show up, saying, “Sana makonsensiya ka. ‘Yung natamaan mong bata, apo ko ‘yan. Mabait na bata ‘yan.”   Stray bullets have injured 22 people from the New Year revelries so far, the DOH said. In Malabon, two-year-old Kirby was injured when a bullet went through the roof of their house and grazed the toddler’s head.   Marina Derder of Caloocan was also injured when a stray bullet entered through the window of their house and hit her left hip. “Parang bigla akong pinalo dito sa balakang. Nag-iyakan ‘yung mga anak ko kasi nakita nila na dumudugo na itong balakang ko,” she said.     Message to gun owners and victims   The victims urged gun owners to consider the lives they are putting in danger when they fire their weapons.   At the same time, Dr. Tayag advised victims to have their injuries treated, no matter how small, to prevent tetanus.   “’Yung mga sugat po diyan, ‘wag niyong babalewalain sapagkat marami na kaming binuksan na sugat sa ospital, nakabaon ‘yung papel ng paputok, pulbura. Makikita naming nabubulok na pala ‘yung laman. ‘Yan po ang pag-uugatan ng tetanus,” he said. — With Amanda Lago and Carmela G. Lapeña/VS/KG/YA, GMA News