Luigi says: Safest revelry in years for Mandaue City

New year’s celebration

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing has considered the recent New Year’s celebration the safest revelry of the city.

"Aside from a few traffic accidents due to intoxication, this has been Mandaue’s safest New Year in years!" he said.

Based on their reports they have gathered, the Mandaue City District Hospital, Dr. Ignacio Cortes General Hospital, Chong Hua Hospital, and UCMed recorded a zero firecracker-related injuries.

In Eversely Child Sanitarium and General Hospital, however, one person was recorded injured but the latter only suffered minor wounds due to a firecracker and was able to get out of the facility shortly.

Quisumbing thanked the Mandauehanons for heeding their request to make their place safe from the use of firecrackers.

During the New Year celebration in 2017, at least four separate fire incidents were responded to by the Mandaue City Fire District which left about 551 families homeless.

The first fire hit a six-wheeler wing van in Barangay Bakilid at 12:11 a.m.; the second fire hit a warehouse in Barangay Looc  23 minutes after.

The third fire erupted around 1 a.m. in the residential areas of Sitio Santo Niño, Barangay Guizo and, five minutes later, another fire broke out at Sitio Salvacion, Barangay Maguikay.

Cebu City

Meanwhile, the police also considered a “peaceful celebration” of New Year's Eve in the province and City of Cebu.

In the city, police were able to seize 8,500 pieces of firecrackers and 641 pyrotechnics worth P154,519.

Cebu City Police Office Head Royina Garma said these prohibited items were all confiscated because it was being sold outside the designated area for selling firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

The operation started just hours before the New Year's Eve.

Aside from confiscating, sellers and firecracker violators were also arrested.  The violators allegedly did not follow the designated fire cracker zone.

The arrested individuals celebrated the New Year's Eve inside the custodial facility of the police stations.

"First time na the arrest is made by the police.  This goes to show that our police is more aggressive this time.  There's a law prohibiting, para din maramdaman nila na may ngipin ang batas. People should cooperate alam naman nila na bawal," Garma said.

The confiscated firecrackers are scheduled to be disposed of today.

"Walay police na nagpaputok.  Walay report na other law enforcement agencies or member of the military na nagpaputok," she said.

Cebu Province

In Cebu Province, there were only seven firecracker related incidents recorded compared to the 15 cases last year.

This year, the authorities recorded only one victim of stray bullet, as compared to two last year.

The lone victim was identified as Joel Navaja Resuento, 30, a resident of Barangay Mananga Dos, Talisay City.

A report from Talisay City Police station indicated that the victim was just inside their home for their new year’s countdown, but was hit by a stray bullet at 12 midnight.

Resuento, who was hit in the lower back portion, is now in stable condition.  The culprit is still unknown.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Spokesperson Supt. Janette Rafter told the FREEMAN that they don't have the exact number of confiscated firecrackers yet because the items are currently on transit from other parts of the province of Cebu to their headquarters where the ceremonial destruction will happen today.

"Wala pay final number kung pila gyud kay nagabot-abot pa gikan sa mga probinsya, ari sa headquarters ang destruction sa tanan confiscated," Rafter said. (FREEMAN)