The Department of Health (DOH) reported a safer New Year celebration for Filipinos, as there were only 85 fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) as of 6 a.m. Saturday, 11 percent lower than the 2021 tally of 96.
The tally is likewise 75 percent lower than the average 336 FWRIs in the last five years.
“But the number of cases may increase in the coming days due to late reports and consultations,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said during a press briefing at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.
In other developments around New Year’s Day:
• Three people were killed and four others were wounded in a shooting incident in Makati City, Super Radyo dzBB reported.
According to the Makati City Police, two of the victims – Raymond Libaton, 52; and Petreño del Rosario, 50 — died on the spot. The third fatality was Libaton’s son Francis Lloyd, 21, who was hit by a stray bullet and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
• Three people died in a predawn fire on Saturday, New Year’s Day, in Caloocan City. The fire started at around 4 a.m. at a residential area at the Malonzo Compound on 4th Avenue, Barangay 49, according to a Dobol B TV report. The two fatalities were live-in partners both aged 19 years old, and the third death was their five-month old baby boy.
• Two young men were killed while two more were wounded as 2 motorcycles collided in Barangay Garita, San Enrique, Iloilo on New Year’s Eve. San Enrique police said the 20-year-old driver of one of the motorcycles died along with his 17-year-old passenger in the head-on crash at around 11:30 p.m.. Their names were still withheld as of presstime. Both motorcycles were running without headlights, police investigators said.
The DOH data showed 36 percent of the injuries are in the National Capital Region (NCR), followed by Region 6 (Western Visayas) at 15 percent, and Region 1 (Ilocos Region) at 13 percent. Jun David
Sixty-four cases or 75 percent of the 85 total involved males aged 2 to 56 years.
Ten cases or 12 percent suffered blast or burn injuries requiring amputation, 52 or 61 percent had blast or burn injuries not requiring amputation, 25 or 29 percent had eye injuries, and other cases sustained multiple types of injuries.
There were no reports yet of fireworks ingestion, stray bullet injury or death.
“Most of the cases were passing or bystanders only at 58 percent. Cases due to illegal fireworks are at 38 percent and first on the list is boga, followed by Five Star and Piccolo,” Duque said.
In Makati, an initial police investigation showed that suspect Roderick Perez and his daughter on a scooter passed by a group of people partying on a street in Barangay Rizal.
A commotion ensued between the suspect and some of those joining the street party. However, residents in the neighborhood were able to pacify the situation.
Authorities said the suspect went home, but returned to the street party shortly after, and began his random shooting spree with his cal. 45 handgun, resulting in the death of the three victims.
Four other people were injured in the incident, including the wife of Raymond.
Suspect Perez immediately surrendered to the police. He is facing multiple murder, and multiple attempted murder complaints.
In the Caloocan fire, firemen said they found the mother clutching the baby boy while they were in the restroom. They died due to suffocation.
The fire reached the first alarm but was immediately responded to by firemen.
At least 11 families were affected by the blaze. Most of them were not able to save any of their belongings. The Bureau of Fire Protection already declared the fire out and is investigating the cause of the fire.