By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

FIRECRACKER injuries during the New Year Eve celebration in 2008 went down by almost 50 percent, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO-6).

 

PRO-6 director Isagani Cuevas said the PNP recorded only 42 cases of firecracker injuries in Western Visayas, 47% lower compared to 79 cases in 2007.

 

Cuevas attributed the low firecracker injuries to heavy rains December 31, the economic crisis and the government’s “Iwas Paputok Program” which seeks to discourage the public from using firecrackers during New Year’s Eve.

 

But the Department of Health-6 has yet to come up with its own record of firecracker injuries culled by the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

 

Senior Supt. Ricardo dela Paz, Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) director, said it is also possible that some minor New Year-related injuries were not reported or referred to hospitals.

 

If firecracker injuries decreased, stray bullet incidents in Iloilo City rose to 19 cases based on latest data from the Iloilo City Police Office despite warnings by the police and the DOH.

 

Cuevas said they are digging deeper into to the stray bullet cases although it would be hard to trace the owner of the bullets.

 

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas raised concern over the stray bullet incidents even as he urged residents to tip the police of persons who fired their guns on New Year’s Eve.

 

Treñas said cash reward await those who can finger irresponsible gun owners.