By Cecille Suerte Felipe (The Philippine Star) Updated December 30, 2010
MANILA, Philippines - Fire your guns – and get fired.
This was the stern warning of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to policemen, firemen and jail personnel who might try to greet the New Year by firing their guns.
“Any policeman, fireman or jailer found to have indiscriminately fired his gun shall be criminally prosecuted under the Revised Penal Code as well as administratively charged for violation of Napolcom Memorandum Circular 93-024,” Robredo said.
The DILG chief said “the penalty of dismissal from the service shall be imposed upon the erring personnel.”
He issued the order as police authorities in Metro Manila and in other regions started sealing the muzzles of firearms of policemen with masking tape in a bid to prevent indiscriminate firing of guns during the New Year’s Eve revelry.
Robredo, who concurrently chairs the National Police Commission (Napolcom), said indiscriminate firing of guns is punishable under Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code.
The DILG chief instructed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Director Rolando Bandilla and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Director Rosendo Dial to make sure their men refrain from firing their guns to greet the New Year.
Robredo also directed policemen to be on alert for indiscriminate firing of guns by civilians.
He explained that indiscriminate firing of weapons had caused numerous deaths and injuries in past New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Robredo also ordered the BFP to place its units, particularly those in Metro Manila, on red alert status.
He also called on the public to call police hotline 2920 or DILG Hotline 0919-2467995 to report cases of indiscriminate firing.
Firecracker zones
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and local government units have set up 747 firecracker zones in a bid to prevent fires and lessen or eliminate blast injuries.
“In coordination with the LGUs, we will ask the 12 million Metro Manilans not only to use legal firecrackers but also to use the firecracker zones to prevent fires and reduce the number of firecracker blast victims in the metropolis,” NCRPO spokesman Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said.
Firecracker zones are located in open spaces far from residential areas.
Carlos said the LGUs would provide the areas with fire fighting equipment while the police would provide security.
NCRPO chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said Manila Police District (MPD) has the most number of firecracker zones at 271, followed by Northern Police District at 255.
The Quezon City Police District has 142 firecracker zones, while the Southern Police District and the Eastern Police District have 45 and 34, respectively.
Tips from the DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) expects firecracker blast victims to flood hospitals particularly in Metro Manila.
Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center, said that if revelers can’t help exploding firecrackers, they should at least take some advice from experts on how to avoid getting injured or prevent injuries from getting worse.
“Generally for firecracker burns, it is better for first degree burns (to be placed) under running water to relieve the heat. Second degree burns should be immersed in cold water or water with ice. Pat it dry and put gauze,” he said in an interview.
For bleeding wounds, Tayag noted that pressure should be put directly on the wound to stop bleeding.
He warned that nerves might be affected by the peeling off of skin of burn victims.
“Most likely the person will not feel pain. Bring him to hospital because we have to clean and remove the traces of (gun) powder and paper to prevent tetanus from setting in.”
“Get five eggs. You can beat the eggs and then let the patient drink them. It is not an antidote but it will coat the gastrointestinal tract and the firecrackers will not stick to them. Otherwise, the intestines will be punctured leading to death,” he said, referring to victims of accidental swallowing of firecracker powder.
He also advised against the use of toothpaste, ink or tomatoes in treating burns.
“Burn ointment is acceptable. Bring them to the hospital immediately because they might need to be put on IV fluids. Or if the blood glucose is down, the heart must be monitored,” he said.
Tayag also said fumes from exploding pyrotechnics are also dangerous.
“During New Year, we open the windows supposedly to let good fortune come in. But smoke and dust also get into the house and they will irritate the respiration. What is important is for them to have wet clothes that can be used to cover the nose and mouth. Close your windows,” he maintained.
He also encouraged the public to use earplugs to protect their eardrums from extremely loud explosions.
Tayag also said the number of injuries from indiscriminate firing has risen to seven with a 24-year-man from Pandacan, Manila as the latest victim. The victim was hit in the foot.
Crackdown
Meanwhile, police raided several shops selling firecrackers and pyrotechnics in Divisoria and seized a jeep-load of banned firecrackers.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered the raid.
After the raid, Superintendent Nelson Yabut, chief of the MPD’s District Public Safety Battalion Yabut, gave away trumpets to the public.
Banned firecrackers included super lolo thunder, super lolo, bawang (large), plapla, watusi, kwiton, giant whistle, Judas belt (large), Og, atomic bomb, piccolo, goodbye Philippines, and Kabasi.
Meanwhile, Lim will inspect public hospitals in the city today, along with Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona, to check their readiness for the possible surge of blast victims.
The mayor also invited Manila residents to watch a fireworks display in the Baywalk area on New Year’s Eve.
Lim also directed barangay leaders to use parks and plazas in their respective areas as common firecracker zones.
Meanwhile, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. reiterated yesterday his call for higher penalties for traders involved in selling powerful firecrackers.
Villar said amendments are needed for Republic Act 7183, which regulates the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers, and other pyrotechnic devices.
Villar wants to increase the P20,000 minimum fine to P500,000 and the maximum fine to P1 million. He also wants prison term for offenders to be raised from “not less than six months” to “six years” up to 12 years.
“Most of the time, these incidents are just being considered as mere accidents. But be it an accident or not, the person or persons who is/are responsible for such incidents should be held liable for violation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 7183,” Villar said.
“The person or persons who are responsible for such incidents should be penalized with stiffer penalties and the provisions of the aforementioned law must be strictly followed and carried out,” the senator said.
Environment the ‘loser’
The Climate Change Commission (CCC), for its part, said the environment is emerging as the biggest loser after the New Year’s Eve revelry.
“Our Oriental firecracker mentality, supposedly to ward off evil spirits, shows our disregard for the adverse environmental, public safety and health impacts of firecracker explosions that essentially add greenhouse gas emissions that heat the Earth, caused by flash gunpowder explosions and colorful toxic chemical stars,” Climate Change Commissioner Heherson Alvarez said.
“Firecracker mentality aggravates global warming. In the firecrackers’ fiesta, the most vulnerable members of society, our children, end up paying the price of limbs, lives and livelihood loss,” Alvarez said.
“A national ban on pyrotechnics and firecrackers may not yet pass against manufacturers’ and importers’ lobby. The solution remains with city governments that have their priorities right. Davao has a total ban. Mandaue and Cebu regulates sales. Makati declared pipeline oil-polluted Barangay Bangkal as a ‘no firecracker zone’ while Taguig and Pasay have centralized firecracker show sites,” Alvarez added.
Meanwhile, former Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo urged the public not to waste their hard earned money on firecrackers.
“Money is going to waste. There should be some kind of balance, some kind of frugality when it comes to firecrackers. Spend the money for something more useful for the coming New Year,” the Iloilo prelate told Radio Veritas.
“The millions of money that are being spent only for firecrackers should be controlled,” the former CBCP president said. With Evelyn Macairan, Rhodina Villanueva, Non Alquitran, Christina Mendez, Sandy Araneta, Sheila Crisostomo
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