Banned firecrackers seized in Ecija 

CABANATUAN CITY— Police seized on Sunday P50,000 worth of illegal firecrackers being sold in an area in Barangay Imelda here that was not designated as a firecracker zone.

Among the items confiscated from Shirley Santiago, 38, were 7 pieces of the prohibited banger, Goodbye Philippines; 10 packs of kabasi; 30 packs of Five-Star firecrackers; thousands of rounds of Judas Belts; 15 packs of the banned firecracker, plapla; 30 boxes of equally prohibited firecracker, piccolo; and bundles of fireworks like skyrockets, said Supt. Ponciano Zafra, city police chief.

The first recorded blast injury before New Year’s Day revelries was a 12-year-old boy from Cuyapo town who lost two fingers after igniting a Five Star firecracker.

The boy was treated at the Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center here, which is prepared to treat  fireworks-related injuries, said hospital administrator Dr. Andrew Mangiduyos.

On Christmas Day (Dec. 25), an 8-year-old boy from Gapan City was rushed to the hospital for injuries to his thumb, and index and middle fingers, after he played with piccolo. /ee