IT WAS generally a quiet Christmas with no reports of stray bullets fired during the Christmas celebration in Cebu, and noticeably fewer firecracker blasts.
Still, at least 12 persons, including a one-month-old boy were hurt by fire cracker blasts from December 24 to 25 this year in Central Visayas.
The injured infant from Cebu City suffered first degree burn on the face after being hit by a “Kwitis”
There were six victims in Cebu City, three in Mandaue City, one in Consolacion town, two in Talisay City.
A 3-year-old girl in Amlan Negros Oriental was also injured.
The cases mostly involved minor burns and victims were not hospitalized, said Rennan Cimafranca of the Department of Health.
One victim from Talisay City was referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center but no details were available.
“It is the responsibility of the parents to watch over their children especially now that people are using firecrackers for Christmas and New Year”, Cimafranca said.
Most blast victims were hit by firecrackers called Kwitis, Whistle bomb, Fountain, Thunder, Bogga and Collected powder.
There were shooting and stabbing incidents in Cebu City since Christmas eve but they were only few, said city officials.
Otherwise, the Christmas celebration was generally peaceful, said Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the city disaster council.
“We had a shooting incident on the 25th, a minor fire in barangay Kamputhaw and a grass fire in barangay Tisa. We also have vehicular accidents but still minor.So far it was peaceful,” he said
Several unauthorized vendors of firecrackers were caught selling goods worth at least P45,000 on the sidewalks in Cebu City.
Otherwise the situation was described as generally peaceful by Senior Supt. Marciano Baitancela, Cebu city police director.
Vending is only allowed in a designated part of the South Road Properties.
In Mandaue City, no firing of stray bullets was reported, said acting director Supt. Julian Entoma.
A house burglary or “akyat-bahay” was reported on Dec. 25 but the thief was caught and no belongings were taken, he said.
Only one firecracker accident was reported in barangay Paknaan.
On Dec. 24, police apprehended P800 worth of firecrackers sold outside the authorized vending area.