8 hurt in New Year revelry in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Three people, including a minor, were hit by stray bullet and five more were included in the list of victims injured by firecrackers during the New Year revelry in this city, authorities said.

 

The victims separately rushed to the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) were identified as Elvira Aurea, 45 and Robert Falsis, 21, both residents of the coastal village of Mampang; and Jonathan Bacani, 14, of Barangay Tugbungan.

 

Attending physicians have declared the victims are now in safe condition after the treatment of their bullet wounds.

 

Aurea said he was inside their house watching their neighbor’s fireworks display when suddenly something hit him and later he realized he was hit by a stray bullet in his left armpit.

 

Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, city police chief, said they were still investigating if the bullets that hit the victims were fired by policemen.

 

De Ocampo also said that there is also a strong possibility that the bullets were fired by civilians while welcoming the new year.

 

The local health office, meanwhile, said that at least five victims of firecrackers were recorded during the New Year revelry. The number brought to 19 the total count of firecracker-related injuries in the city since December 21.

 

De Ocampo said that the number was lower compared to the same period in 2011.