At least four people, including a child, were reported injured at the height of the New Year’s Eve celebration Tuesday evening in Negros Oriental, official records with the Philippine National Police showed.
Of the total casualties, three sustained injuries in Tanjay City (two) and Dumaguete City (one) due to firecrackers, while another one was hurt while playing with boga-boga, an improvised “cannon” made of PVC pipe, in Sta. Catalina town, according to Supt. Alet Virtucio, OIC provincial police director.
The number of injuries during the New Year’s celebration this year is lower compared to that of last year, with five cases reported, he disclosed.
Also, the PNP has not received any reports of indiscriminate firing of guns by members of the military and the police or by civilians during Tuesday evening’s revelry to usher in 2014, said Virtucio.
To recall, on Dec. 23, the PNP provincial office led a Province-wide taping of muzzles of firearms issued to policemen, as a preventive measure to ensure that these guns are not fired indiscriminately and outside the call of duty on New Year’s Eve.
Except when justified, if the tape on the muzzle of a policeman’s gun is destroyed within the period prescribed, an investigation will determine if the firing was within the line of duty, Virtucio said.
The un-taping of the guns’ muzzles will be on Jan. 6, he added.
Virtucio further expressed gratitude that so far, no victims of stray bullets were reported to his office this year. He, however, lamented that one of the victims in Tanjay City was a five-year old child who was not supposed to be allowed to play with firecrackers.
According to Virtucio, it is the parent’s responsibility to monitor and prevent their children from playing with firecrackers.
Except for the victim in Sta. Catalina who reportedly almost lost a hand to boga-boga, the other casualties sustained minor cuts and burns, he said.
Generally, however, the celebration of Christmas and New Year in the province of Negros Oriental was peaceful, according to him. (PNA/JFP)
