Dozens hurt in firecracker-related incidents during Christmas revelry

Dozens, mostly children, have been reported injured in firecracker-related incidents during Christmas revelries in different parts of the country.

GMA News' Trisha Zafra in a report on "Balitanghali" said six were reported injured in Ilocos Norte since November this year, while the Department of Health in Bicol reported 24 injuries from December 22 to 26.

In a post on its Twitter account on Saturday morning, dzBB radio said the number of fireworks-related injuries climbed to 25.

Headlines: Bilang ng mga naputukan, umabot na sa 25. Karamihan sa mga biktima, nadale ng Piccolo.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 26, 2015

In a press release obtained by GMA News, Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said that as of 8 a.m., the number of firecracker incidents went up to 44.

He said that the "IWAS PAPUTOK/DISGRASYA 2015" program has been monitoring firecracker incidents since December 16, and will continue doing so until January 05, 2016.

Piccolo, a small tubular firecracker, was the main culprit of the firecracker-incidents, even as other types of fireworks such as five-star, kwitis, and sparklers also caused some injuries, the Balitanghali report said.

Piccolo is among the types of firecrackers being prohibited in the country. It caused 32 percent of the 840 recorded firework injuries in 2014.

Most of the victims,  the report added, were aged seven to 12-years-old.

Among those reported injured by firecrackers were an 11-year-old from General Santos City; a 32-year-old from Sarangani province in Mindanao; and a 73-year-old lola in Ilocos Norte in northern Luzon.

On the other hand, the Department of Health and the Bureau of Fire Protection reiterated their call to avoid fireworks during holiday revelries to minimize firecracker-related injuries, especially in the lead-up to New Year's festivities.

DOH at BFP, muling nanawagan sa publiko na huwag nang gumamit ng paputok para makaiwas sa disgrasya.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 26, 2015

"Para sa amin, isang pagkakamali lang ng paputok, buong buhay mo na siyang dala. Kung hindi ikasawi, may parte ng katawan mo na nagkaroon talaga ng problema," DOH's Lyndon Lee-Suy told Balitanghali.

Stray bullets

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has recorded five victims of stray bullets since December 16. 

In a GMA News' Balitanghali report on Saturday, the latest victim of stray bullet was Ronald Paguinto.

Vicente Serato, duty officer of the Rizal Park Tourist Police, said Paguinto was buying corn from a street vendor near the park's entrance gate along Maria Orosa Street when a stray bullet grazed the back of his body.

Serato said the incident happened at around 11:28 p.m.

Police recovered from the scene a slug from a 9mm firearm. The slug has been brought to the Manila Police District for laboratory examination.

In an earlier report, the Philippine National Police (PNP) identified two of the stray bullet victims as three-year-old Calsum Henio from Zamboanga del Norte and
Hawati Asakil Hanapi from Zamboanga City.

Two more victims have been identified as Cornelio Mendoza Grita and Erlinda Alob, both residents of Barangay Maggalang Kiling, Sariaya, Quezon. — Rie Takumi/LBG/ALG, GMA News