MANILA, Philippines?Three churchgoers were injured when a firecracker accidentally went off in front of a church in Sampaloc, Manila during the traditional Easter Sunday ?salubong? shortly after midnight Sunday.

Marcelino Mallari, 57, of San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City; Danielle Uy, 27, of Jocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila and Eric de Pedro, 30, suffered burns and were brought to Mary Chiles Hospital.

Minor injuries

Fortunately, their injuries were minor and they were sent home after receiving treatment.

Senior Police Officer 1 Arnold Clavo of the Manila Police District (MPD) Sampaloc Station 4 said the firecracker explosion happened at around 12:10 a.m. Sunday on J. Figueras (formerly Bustillos) Street in front of Our Lady of Loreto Parish church.

Clavo said that in keeping with tradition during the salubong, several unidentified men set off firecrackers which were supposed to explode in midair.

However, one of the firecrackers malfunctioned and exploded on the ground, leaving some of those attending the procession injured.

Culprit not identified

Clavo said no one was able to see who had set off the firecracker that exploded prematurely because the crowd was too thick.

There were radio reports that six people were injured although the police official said their investigation pointed to only three.