Stray bullets hit 2 in P’sinan

DAGUPAN CITY — Two children aged six and 14 in Villasis and Laoac towns were hit by stray bullets, while seven people were injured when a pillbox one of them lit up exploded during the New Year’s Eve revelry across the province.

As of presstime, 24 people, mostly children, were injured in firecracker-related incidents and rushed to the Don Amadeo Perez Memorial Hospital in Urdaneta City.

Authorities identified the stray bullet victims as Charlene Angel Imperial, 6, and Genesis Daos, 14, who were hit in the left thigh and left leg, respectively.

Senior Superintendent Alan Purisima, provincial police director, said the slugs will be sent to the crime laboratory in Urdaneta for ballistic tests.

In the Bicol region, at least 18 people were hurt in firecracker blasts, bringing the tally to 30 since Dec. 20, authorities said.

The figure, which included two stray bullet cases, represents a 12 percent drop from the previous year.

Davao City, meanwhile, registered zero injury for the fifth year, thanks to the strict implementation of its firecracker ban.

City administrator Wendel Avisado, however, admitted that a few individuals were able to use firecrackers.

"They may be trying to test the law. But they have to watch out because once it is proven that they, indeed, exploded firecrackers or lighted pyrotechnic materials, then the authorities will go after them and they have to face the consequences," Avisado said. — Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez, Edith Regalado, Celso Amo and Cet Dematera