35 dead, 590 hurt in revelry

At least thirty-five people were killed and 590 injured as the Philippines ushered in the New Year with riotous revelry that sparked fires, shootings and accidents, officials and police reports said yesterday.

A thick pall of smoke from exploding firecrackers and burning tires shrouded Metro Manila before dawn amid reports of hundreds of firecracker-related injuries sustained during the revelry.

The deadliest incident linked to the New Year’s Eve celebration was a fire that gutted a firecracker store in Lucena City Wednesday. The toll from that blaze has risen to 19 confirmed dead and two others reported missing.

The dead were identified by Lucena police station radio operator Arlene Pasion as Jerry Lou, 40; Librada Tan, 62, Christine Loyola Tan, 34; Carisma Ong Tan, 29; Francisco Angelo Ong, 3; Cheryl Lou, 33; Myrna Capilles, 20; Cecille Rogel, 19; Roselyn Piedad; Conrado Lusanta; Albert Gatlitan, 18; Junior Loyola and a certain Maaño.

Police also identified several Muslim merchants who were killed in the fire as Haji Ismael; Haji Hidiara Sarapida; Haji Naim Buleg Sarapida, 35; Nasiba Buleg Sarapida, 22; Marivic Lopez Sarapida, 37; and Farjana Buleg Sarapida, 9. Their remains were immediately brought to their hometown in Mindanao.

Reported missing were Estela Alcantara, 10, and Inocencio Tan, 86. At least three people were rushed to the hospital for minor injuries. Police are still searching for the bodies of other victims believed buried in the rubble.

Reports from the Department of Health (DOH) National Epidemiology Center (NEC) showed that 590 people were injured by stray bullets, firecracker blasts and burns and watusi (dancing firecracker) poisoning.

The youngest victim of firecracker blasts is a 10-month-old infant, while the oldest is 92 years old. None of the injured required amputation.

Nine people, mostly children, were poisoned when they ingested dancing firecrackers during the celebration — an increase from the four cases reported by the DOH last year.

The NEC statistics do not include the number of people injured by fires sparked by pyrotechnics.

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said the figure of 590 injuries is 11 percent higher than the 531 registered during the previous New Year’s celebration.

Dayrit attributed the increase in firecracker-related injuries to the new marketing strategies used by fireworks manufacturers and vendors and the delayed airing of the DOH’s "Iwas Paputok" campaign advertisements on television.

He said firecracker manufacturers came up with cheaper, but poor quality pyrotechnics, which were sold on a "tingi (retail)" basis that made the firecrackers cheap enough for even children to afford.

"One lesson here is that (on) Dec. 21(television stations) should begin showing the ads," Dayrit said. "There were very few injuries last year. Now, there is a steady rise."

Television stations only began airing the "Iwas Paputok" campaign advertisements on Dec. 30.

Metro Manila reported the highest number of firecracker blast victims, at 352 cases, followed by Regions Southern Tagalog, and Western and Central Visayas.

In Manila, the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC) in Sta. Cruz and the Ospital ng Tondo reported the most number of cases, with 93 and 27, respectively. DOH records showed that 60 percent of firecracker blast injuries happened to those who handled firecrackers, while 19 percent of the victims were injured while under the influence of alcohol.

Legitimate fireworks caused 49 percent of the injuries, though only 12 percent of blast victims needed to be admitted into the hospital. The other blast victims were treated on an outpatient basis.

Overall, however, the DOH has noted a steady decline in firecracker and stray bullet injuries since 1999, when 1,632 people were hurt in the New Year’s revelry. That figure decreased to 1,369 injuries in 2000 and 627 in 2001.

Dayrit warned that firecracker injuries cannot be minimized unless firecrackers are banned. He also proposed the passage of ordinances by local government units setting down safety guidelines for the use of pyrotechnics.

He also said "exploding firecrackers on the road should be prohibited. (Lighting firecrackers) should be done inside the compound."

Drinking, Shooting And Stabbing

The DOH and the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that 11 people were hit by celebratory gunfire, including a 13-year-old girl who was hit in the arm by a stray bullet as she watched a fireworks show.

Dayrit said that during the same period last year, the DOH registered 17 stray-bullet cases.

Senior Superintendent Joel Goltiao told reporters that the PNP is "still getting reports from the field, but I think the celebration was generally peaceful. Although the mood was very festive, there were less casualties than we expected."

In Caloocan City, two unidentified assailants gunned down barangay chairman Rodolfo Pagaran, 49, of Barangay 120, 2nd Avenue, Grace Park.

Pagaran was shot in the chest and right leg and died at the Chinese General Hospital (CGH) at 2:50 a.m. while being treated for his wounds.

Pagaran was shot by two gunmen riding in tandem on a motorcycle, Caloocan City police chief Senior Superintendent Benjardi Mantele said. The gunmen fled after shooting Pagaran, he added.

The suspects timed Pagaran’s murder to coincide with the firecracker blasts that greeted the New Year. Responding barangay watchmen recovered four caliber .45 shells from the scene of the crime.

Mantele said police are now looking into a land dispute Pagaran was involved in as a possible motive for his murder. Pagaran figured in a dispute over a property where at least 200 houses stood, including his residence. This residential area was gutted by fire Tuesday, Mantele said.

Two people were shot in Malabon City during the New Year’s celebration.

In Barangay Longos, 19-year-old Artemio Basbas died of wounds caused by bullets fired from an improvised shotgun.

A 16-year-old girl was hit in the left leg by a stray bullet at her home on Katapatan Street, Muñoz.

In Quezon City, seven people were killed and another was seriously wounded in separate early morning shooting and stabbing incidents. Most of the shootings and stabbings stemmed from heated arguments during or after drinking sessions.

Joel Bruce, 23, was killed by a gunshot to his head and Allan Abajencia, 26, was declared dead on arrival at the East Avenue Medical Center due to a gunshot wound in the body.

Bruce and Abajencia, of 71 Acacia st., Barangay Pag-Asa, San Roque II, and Angelito Abajencia, 30, were drinking in front of their house when unidentified suspects arrived and shot them. Angelito is still under treatment at EAMC.

A heated argument led to the shooting and death of Crisanto Lucban at the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman. Lucban was declared dead on arrival at the EAMC. The suspect is reportedly a member of the UP campus police.

At 1:50 a.m., a certain Rodel Banzon was killed by an unidentified suspect along Rolex street in Barangay Commonwealth in Fairview. Banzon was stabbed in the chest.

At 4 a.m., Romulo Arellano, 49, of Barangay Sta. Monica, Novaliches, was shot dead with an improvised handgun by his housemate, Domingo Sate during a drinking session.

In Barangay Tatalon, 42-year-old Vilma de Jesus was stabbed to death by her live-in partner, Alfredo Papa, inside their house. Witnesses said Papa was drunk when he got home and attacked De Jesus. Papa was besten up by neighbors before he was arrested by responding police personnel.

Also in Barangay Tatalon, Aguinaldo December Hernandez, 45, was stabbed dead in front of his house by suspects Bobby and Aries Geronimo.

In Manila, seven people, one of them a beat policeman, were killed in stabbing and shooting incidents. Four stray bullet injuries were also reported in the city.

PO2 Nelson Gonzales of the Western Police District (WPD) was stabbed dead by two men in Tondo, Manila. Suspects Dexter Gapetio, 24 and 33-year-old Antonio Buscano and his brothers Alfredo, 28 and Edgar, 27 - all from Don Bosco, Tondo - were arrested by Manila police in follow-up operations.

Also in Tondo, 16-year-old Rodolfo Recate was stabbed dead by three men at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday. Suspects Michael Ibañez, 18; Marlon Mesames, 21 and an unidentified 17-year-old boy escaped after the incident.

At 3:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Jeffrey Alfaro, 36 was hacked and stabbed to death by an unidentified assailant in front of a bakery on Pacheco street in Tondo.

Modesto Bagay, 29, was shot in the chest by a barangay tanod who was reportedly responding to an incident on San Miguel Road in Tondo. The tanod escaped.

At 6:30, widower Benjamin Zape, 69, was stabbed dead by Pio Picandal, 25, a friend of Zape’s grandchildren who had been living with them for two months. Picandal escaped.

Teodora Ronquillo, 62, died after falling out of a passenger jeepney along Taft Ave. in Malate district. Case investigator SPO2 Edison Bertoldo said witnesses claimed Ronquillo had been pushed out of the vehicle.

In Makati City, stabbings, mauling and shootings also marred the New Year’s revelry, as reflected in the city’s police blotter, but no deaths were reported.

Southern Police District (SPD) head Chief Superintendent Prospero Noble Jr. reported one stray bullet injury in Parañaque City and identified the victim as Nelson Osorio, 48, of Camella Homes in Barangay Don Bosco. Osorio, he said, "only sustained a minor wound, the bullet only grazed his right leg."

In Butuan City, two people were hit by stray bullets from M-16 assault rifles allegedly fired by police personnel and 47-year-old Ruel Lasaga was stabbed dead by a certain Roberto Ladao. A police manhunt is now on for Ladao.

One stray bullet injury was reported in Legaspi City.

Arrests

In Metro Manila, a policeman and two security guards were arrested for indiscriminately firing their guns, Metro Manila police Director Ricardo de Leon said.

He identified the suspects as PO3 Gary Lee, of the Marikina City police, and security guards Gener Gabato and Noli Takmo of Malabon.

Lee was reported to be absent without leave (AWOL) and will be dismissed from the PNP, while Gabato and Takmo face criminal charges, De Leon said.

Marikina police chief Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr. said Lee was drunk when he was arrested in Sitio Tumana, Barangay Concepcion Uno after a resident reported that he fired his gun during the New Year’s revelry.

Lee yielded a caliber .45 Mark IV automatic pistol and a magazine with fewer bullets than its full capacity. Lee also denied he fired his gun during the celebration.

Rojas said Lee will be subjected to paraffin tests and his gun will be forwarded to the PNP Crime Laboratory for ballistic examination.

In San Fernando, Pampanga, Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol ordered the immediate arrest of SPO2 Nicanor Pagado of the San Marcelino, Zambales police after witnesses said Pagado fired his gun on New Year’s Eve.

"Once we have gathered the formal statements of witnesses and the result of the paraffin test on (Pagado), he will be dismissed from his job," Querol said.

Deadly Lucena Fire

Police investigators said the Lucena City marke fire started at 1 p.m. Wednesday when a firecracker trader lit a baby rocket to test the pyrotechnic. The rocket backfired and landed on a pile of firecrackers, setting off the three-hour blaze that gutted at least nine establishments at the corner of Merchan and Huarez streets.

Lucena City Mayor Ramon Talaga said the city engineer has placed the property damage from the fire at P140 million.

The Pasay City fire department recorded the longest-running fire of the year, lasting beyond 16 hours.

The MBCN Repackaging office warehouse at Facundo and Tolentino streets was gutted by flames that destroyed P2 million worth of property. No casualties were reported and the adjoining office was not affected by the flames.

Fire investigators suspect arson in the warehouse fire and, as of 4 p.m. yesterday, firemen were still battling the blaze.

Eight fires hit different commercial and residential areas in Quezon City, injuring seven people and destroying at least P3 million worth of property. Five families were left homeless.

In Makati City, 20 families were left homeless after fire gutted a 15-house compound on Calasan St. in Barangay Olympia. The blaze also trapped and killed three dogs and destroyed P1 million worth of property.

One of the houses destroyed in the Makati fire reportedly belonged to the in-laws of Philippine Basketball League (PBL) commissioner Chino Trinidad.

A factory in Antipolo City located along Marcos Highway was destroyed by a three-hour fire. Property damage was estimated at P20 million.

The Marikina Fire Department reported two fires, one in Barangay Concepcion Dos and another which hit the Union Bank branch on C. Cruz street in Barangay Sta. Elena.

In Manila, six fires, some sparked by firecrackers, gutted residences and a home for the disabled and injured three people.

The Bukang Liwayway Home for the Disabled at Arlegui and Duque de Alba streets in Quiapo was struck by fire. Marlon Domingo, 9, SFO3 Edgar Cervantes and FO2 Felipe Jecino were hit by burning debris.

In the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas (Camanava) area, three fires were sparked by firecrackers. The first fire happened in Caloocan City, destroying 15 homes and injuring one Ar-Jay Quinones, 20.

The three fires in Camanava destroyed an estimated P20 million in property.

The PNP Firearms and Explosives Division (FED), on the other hand, noted a decline in the number of fires sparked by pyrotechnics from last year’s total of 19. — With reports from Pete Laude, Non Alquitran, Arnell Ozaeta, Roberto Dejon, Ding Cervantes, Cesar Ramirez, Celso Amo, Nikko Dizon, Jerry Botial, Ben Serrano, AFP