Philippines
Metro Manila
Muntinlupa records first firecracker victim, child's finger to be amputated
Muntinlupa records first firecracker victim, child's finger to be amputated
The Muntinlupa City government recorded its first firecracker-related injury for the 2025 holiday season as it warned the public about an existing ordinance banning the use of such devices.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon made the announcement during the weekly flag-raising ceremony on Dec. 22, saying the victim was an 11-year-old child who sustained injuries from a firecracker. Doctors recommended the amputation of his finger.
“Just two days ago, we had our first firecracker victim. We have our first victim, an 11-year-old child whose doctors recommended amputating the finger,” Biazon said.
The mayor lamented, “So 11 years old mapuputulan siya ng daliri. May mababawasan ang kanyang katawan. So ang nakakalungkot kasi doon pwede namang maiwasan yan nangyayari (So at 11 years old, he's going to have his finger amputated. Something will be missing from his body. So it's sad because that could have been prevented).
According to the Muntinlupa police, the firecracker accident happened on Dec. 19 in Mariategue Maharlika Compound in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa.
The victim, a Grade 4 pupil, suffered an injury on his left hand index finger when a Piccolo firecracker suddenly exploded. He was brought to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa for treatment.
Biazon reminded the public about Muntinlupa City Ordinance 14-092, which bans the use and possession of any firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices.
“So gusto ko lang ipaalala sa lahat 'yung ordinansang umiiral na pinagbabawal ang pagbebenta at paggamit ng paputok at 'yan ay sanctioned by government. Lalong-lalo na syempre 'yung kinaugalian nagpaputok sa kanilang mga komunidad o bahay (So I just want to remind everyone of the existing ordinance that prohibits the sale and use of firecrackers and that is sanctioned by the government. Especially, of course, those who traditionally set off fireworks in their communities or homes),” the mayor said.
The ordinance prohibits “the manufacture, display, sale, distribution, possession or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices and such other similar devices and the exploding of firecrackers or other similar explosives within the territorial jurisdiction of Muntinlupa City.”
Violators of the ordinance face a fine of P1,000 to P5,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.
Biazon added, “That is why we are reminding everyone to avoid it because that is what our ordinance says. So I hope this will serve as a warning to all our countrymen to just avoid it because there are other ways to make noise when welcoming the New Year. What we want is to be safe as much as possible. The government is asking us to just follow the law and avoid injuries. Because we don't want our countrymen to spend their holidays in the hospital, especially those who have lost a part of their body due to fireworks.”
Biazon also reminded the public about another ordinance, which prohibits the use of open or modified mufflers in vehicles that emit loud noise.
“So hopefully this will serve as a warning. And if you think it won't be implemented, so be it. All we will do is we will try to enforce the law as much as we can with limited manpower, limited resources,” Biazon vowed.
