Cops reviewing CCTV to find out who's behind deadly firecracker in Tondo

Police investigators are reviewing CCTV footage to trace how two children in Tondo, Manila, got hold of a firecracker that killed one of them on Sunday evening.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on 24 Oras on Monday, authorities are also determining who should be held responsible for the incident.

“Based sa investigation ng EOD, ay kahalintulad yung paputok sa ‘Goodbye Philippines’ at ‘Goodbye Bin Laden’ na gawa sa cylinder. Nagsindi daw sila ng piccolo then nagsindi din yung hawak ng bata na malakas na paputok,” said Manila Police District spokesperson Police Major Philipp Ines.

(Based on the EOD’s investigation, the firecracker was similar to 'Goodbye Philippines' and 'Goodbye Bin Laden,' which are made of cylinders. They reportedly lit a piccolo, which then ignited the powerful firecracker the child was holding.)

“Nire-review namin mga CCTV,” he added.

(We are reviewing the CCTV footage.)

The Sarmiento family will welcome the new year in mourning following the death of Caezar Ruzcel, the 12-year-old boy killed by the firecracker explosion.

Maricel, Caezar’s mother, shared that her son had just celebrated his birthday on December 26.

“Malambing lalo pagka may hinihingi siya at binigay namin nagte-thank you siya sa amin. ‘Yun na nga lang talaga yung kakulitan hindi naman namin maano kasi nga bata,” she said.

(He was very affectionate, especially when he would ask for something and we’d give it to him; he would always say thank you. It was just his playfulness that we couldn’t really [control] because he was just a child.)

Meanwhile, Cherrycel, Caezar’s sibling, recalled only good memories of her brother.

“‘Yung ngiti kasi nga talagang abot tenga kapag nakukuha niya gusto niya,” she said.

(His smile would really stretch from ear to ear whenever he got what he wanted.)

CCTV footage showed the explosion at the spot where Caezar and his friend were at around 8:30 p.m. The blast was so loud that it was heard in nearby communities.

Caezar Ruzcel was declared dead on the spot, with initial police investigations confirming he had his hands on the firecracker when it exploded.

The victim’s friend, also 12 years old, sustained burns and a shoulder injury and will need to undergo surgery.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/MCG, GMA Integrated News