8 hurt during Lapu-Lapu City fiesta

CEBU, Philippines — Eight people were injured in separate vehicular and stabbing incidents during the celebration of Lapu-Lapu City's annual fiesta in honor of its patron, Virgen dela Regla, Saturday, but police said it was “generally peaceful".

In a Facebook post yesterday, Nagiel Bañacia, head of Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said seven persons suffered bone fractures, bruises, lacerations and contusions from road accidents while one was stabbed on the abdomen.

He said all the victims came from attending the city’s fiesta celebration.

“Eight persons were brought to the hospital due to various separate traffic and stabbing incidents while Lapu-Lapu City was celebrating the fiesta day of Neustra Señora Birhen sa Regla yesterday (Saturday).”

“Seven persons sustained bone fractures, bruises, lacerations and contusions after they encountered separate traffic accidents. The traffic accidents were recorded by Lapu-Lapu City Rescue Emergency Operation Center from 6 a.m Saturday up to 1 a.m. Sunday,” Bañacia’s Facebook post read.

He said all the victims were brought to Lapu-Lapu City Hospital for treatment by the city rescue teams, including DRRMO and barangay responders.

Bañacia said five of the seven traffic accident victims were under the influence of liquor.  The two others were a mother and her child.

“Most of them were riding motorcycles and bicycles. All of them were under the influence of liquor except for two the victims, a mother and a child. They came from different fiesta celebrations or parties,” he said.

On the other hand, the stabbing victim was walking in the vicinity of Barangay Babag when attacked.

Bañacia said the 23-year-old male was brought to the city hospital and was later on transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center while police investigate his case.

“A 23-year-old male sustained stab wounds in his abdomen while he was walking yesterday (Saturday) afternoon in Barangay Babag. The case is now investigated by the police while the patient was brought to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for further medical intervention,” he said.

However, Police Colonel Arnel Banzon, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office director, said no stabbing and vehicular accidents were reported to the police.

He urged the victims to come forward and report the incidents.

"Kay so far wala mi nadawat (report) so kun kinsa tung nakabalo sa social media ato i-report sa kapolisan," said Banzon.

He stressed that the fiesta celebration was generally peaceful despite a huge influx of devotees and spectators.

"Medyo daghan jud ang tawo naa sa gawas no, mura na gyud sya og nabalik sa normal, " he said.

At least 150 cops were deployed in the city.

“The deployment remains as we anticipate significant crowds even after the fiesta,” said Banzon. — KQD (FREEMAN)