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Rhodina Villanueva - The Philippine Star
December 28, 2025 | 12:00am
One victim’s thumb and index finger were cut off after suffering from blast injuries by a whistle bomb, while the other also lost two fingers from a lit 5-star.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — Two minors lost their fingers due to fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) yesterday, according to the Department of Health.
One victim’s thumb and index finger were cut off after suffering from blast injuries by a whistle bomb, while the other also lost two fingers from a lit 5-star.
The victims, aged eight and 16, are two of the 91 FWRI victims recorded by the DOH nationwide.
This is 34 percent lower than the 137 FWRI victims recorded in the same period in 2024.
The FWRI data were logged from Dec. 21 to early morning yesterday.
The DOH also noted that most of the victims were 10 to 14 years old.
The top causes of FWRI are 5-Star, boga, kwitis and pla-pla.
The health department reminded the public that children and those who are drunk should not be allowed to light fireworks or firecrackers.
“It is safer to watch community fireworks display being handled by professionals to prevent accidents at home,” the DOH said.
Heightened patrols
After a resident of Tondo, Manila was killed by a stray bullet on Christmas, police units nationwide are stepping up their monitoring and patrols to prevent similar incidents ahead of the New Year’s Eve revelry.
Acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. yesterday warned police commanders of the strict enforcement of the one-strike policy should they fail to resolve indiscriminate firing of firearms.
He also gave the same warning to gun owners, stressing they will face criminal cases should they be caught using their firearms indiscriminately.
Nartatez urged the public to cooperate with authorities by reporting stray bullet and indiscriminate shooting incidents.
“Community vigilance and cooperation are vital in keeping our neighborhoods safe, especially during this season of celebration,” Nartatez said in a statement.
The victim, Rey-an Policarpio, was hit by a bullet along Laurel street in Barangay 120 during a drinking spree celebrating Christmas Eve and died at around 12:50 a.m. on Christmas Day.
Nartatez had ordered the Manila Police District to conduct an in-depth probe to identify the person responsible for the shooting. — Emmanuel Tupas
