‘Fear’ crackers
If anything, the “fear factor” played a major role in the Department of Health’s reported “remarkable” decline in the number of firecracker-related injuries during Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations – down to 350 or 60 percent lower than the five-year average from 2011 to 2015. The number is the lowest so far in the last 10 years during which time the average has been at 1,000 people injured by firecrackers.
Even in the country’s fireworks capital of Bulacan, authorities reported a lower number of victims compared to last year.
No doubt, the Duterte “fear factor” came into play with the people afraid of the consequences if they light up firecrackers – especially the illegal ones like the Piccolo, Judas Belt, Super Lolo and the Goodbye de Lima, among others.
In Davao City, mayor Sarah Duterte reported zero firecracker-related injuries and casualties, saying the city is proof that people can celebrate even without firecrackers and pyrotechnics that could harm residents, most especially children. President Duterte, of course, has long banned firecrackers even when he was still mayor of Davao City. Now he wants to do the same for the whole country, saying areas should be designated for celebrations with firecrackers during New Year and other celebrations.
Many parents are certainly happy because it spares their children from the harrowing experience of being rushed to the hospital due to injuries, with some even missing their fingers or other body parts hit by exploding firecrackers. In the last five years, the DOH has been actively campaigning against the use of firecrackers and fireworks to herald the new year, running TV ads showing gory images of bloodied arms, legs and other body parts, and displaying fearsome instruments like sharp surgical knives and saws to amputate fingers or other extremities. Eye injuries are also critical because it could result in blindness.
Many told us they did not have to wear masks because there was less smoke, and therefore less pollution, compared to previous years when people, especially children with delicate lungs or ailments like asthma, suffered and had to be brought to the hospital.
While the number of injuries has substantially gone down, it’s still unfortunate that many of the victims are children below 15 years old, some as young as two according to the DOH. Reports also say a teenage girl from Malabon was hit by a stray bullet, although the Philippine National Police is investigating due to reports the girl may have been the victim of a shooting and not a stray bullet due to indiscriminate firing.
The PNP has been on high alert against indiscriminate firing incidents, with PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa warning policemen that they could lose their jobs if they are found guilty of indiscriminate firing, adding local police chiefs or station commanders would also be made accountable if they fail to arrest policemen behind indiscriminate firing incidents.
Dela Rosa put all policemen on duty during New Year’s Eve, telling them to sacrifice those extra hours for the country. He also told his men that they could invoke the doctrine of hot pursuit to search the homes of people who indiscriminately fire their guns, reminding the troops to be in proper uniform with a police car on standby when they knock on doors where the suspected gun owner resides.
Apparently, Dela Rosas’s warning to police officials also worked – saying that any death as a result of the illegal discharge of firearms wherein the suspect is not arrested within 24 hours could result in the relief of the police chief. If two chiefs of police are relieved for the same incident, then their provincial commander would also be relieved, and the same goes for regional directors, Dela Rosa added, clearly outlining the principle of command responsibility.
It’s clear the President Duterte “fear factor” worked. Russia’s ‘Trump’ card
The feared diplomatic tit-for-tat between outgoing US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not happen when the latter did not expel American diplomats in Russia in retaliation to Obama’s orders to send home 35 Russian diplomats accused of espionage.
Two compounds in New York and Maryland owned by Russia were also closed down by US authorities who said they were being used for intelligence and cyber operations. However, the Russian Ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak, was not among those sent packing. The mass expulsion stemmed from allegations that the Russians had hacked the US elections, resulting in a victory for Donald Trump.
Saying he would not stoop to the level of “irresponsible kitchen diplomacy,” Putin also announced he “would not create problems for American diplomats” and would not send anyone home. While he expressed hopes of rebuilding relations with Washington after the inauguration of US president- elect Donald Trump, Putin also asserted that Russia reserves the right to retaliate. “Further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump administration” would be undertaken, a statement from the Kremlin said.
The move earned for Putin high praise from Trump, who tweeted, “Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!”
Russian diplomats in other countries also weighed in on Twitter, some putting out a lame duck meme saying, “Everybody including the American people will be glad to see the last of this hapless administration,” referring to the Obama government.
Obviously, Russia is counting on the Trump card to smoothen relations between Washington and Moscow, in the same manner that President Duterte is also waiting for Donald Trump to get into the picture. It’s expected that President Rody and the Donald will get along well with “similar foul mouths and the same kind of temperament.”
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