A stray bullet claimed the life of a 12-year-old girl in Lanao del Norte during the New Year 2021 revelries, police said Friday.
The girl was the sole fatality of indiscriminate firing during the New Year celebration in the country, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said in a press briefing.
"There was one casualty. A 12-year-old girl died as a result of stray bullet," Usana said, noting that aside from the incident, the "entire Philippines has been generally peaceful."
Based on government data, the Philippines recorded 50 firecracker-related injuries from Dec 21, 2020 to Jan 1, 2021, an 85% decline from the 340 cases reported during the same period for the 2020 New Year revelries, and 89% lower than the five-year average for the same period from 2015-2019.
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"The lower numbers we achieved this year is a welcome development, but we will not stop until we achieve zero firework-related injuries and ensure that the next holidays will be safer for every Filipino,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
Most of the firecracker injuries this year were caused by Kwitis, Boga, 5-Star, Fountain, and Triangle, the DOH said.
