Police, health dep't on highest alert levels; injuries up

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 02:49pm (Mla time) 12/31/2006

HEALTH and police authorities are on their highest alert levels Sunday, as the number of firecracker-related injuries surged from the previous year, several hours before the traditional New Year's revelries, officials said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that as of last count late Saturday, 237 people have been injured due to firecrackers, up "eighty percent" from the same period in 2005. He could not immediately give exact comparative figures.

Duque attributed the rise in firecracker-related injuries to the proliferation of improvised cannons popularly known as "boga" that are made from plastic pipes and the "piccolo," a firecracker that can be ignited just by rubbing it against a flat surface.

"We just hope that the number of injuries will not go higher," Duque said in a phone interview.

In 2005, three people died while 610 others were injured due to firecrackers and stray bullets from December 21, 2005 to January 1, 2006, data from the Department of Health (DoH) showed.

One of the fatalities was a six-year old girl from Cavite City who was hit by a stray bullet while the two others were poisoned after ingesting "watusi" or dancing firecrackers.

Duque said hospitals across the country are on "code white," their highest alert level. He said he would lead an inspection of government hospitals late Sunday afternoon to check on their preparedness for the expected injuries.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, has been placed on full alert, its highest alert level, nationwide, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr said.

PNP Chief Director General Oscar Calderon has ordered mobile patrols to confiscate "boga" and other banned pyrotechnics and arrest those caught indiscriminately firing their guns.

"Anyone caught firing guns indiscriminately will be arrested," Pagdilao said in a phone interview.

"We appeal to the public to report those caught indiscriminately firing their guns to our text hotline PNP 2920 and Patrol 117," he added.

Pagdilao said a policeman in Baguio City was caught indiscriminately firing his gun last December 24 and is facing investigation for possible administrative charges.

The policeman reportedly fired a warning shot to defuse a village scuffle, but Pagdilao said the use of his service firearm for that purpose was "not appropriate."

Click here to access article as posted on INQUIRER.net