Cops name suspect in Tondo ’cracker blast
Police have identified the alleged owner of the illegal “Yolanda” firecracker that went off during the New Year’s Eve celebration in Tondo, Manila and seriously injured two boys.
Inspector Adonis Sugui, Tondo police station chief investigator, identified the suspect as a certain Jonjon Sablay, known as “Kilabot” in the area for sowing fear in the community and for his tattooed body.
Sugui showed to The STAR closedcircuit television (CCTV) footage, taken at past midnight, showing six men playing with illegal firecrackers between Barangays 116 and 117, which do not have a designated firecracker zone.
Sugui said Sablay was seen in the footage holding up the Yolanda firecracker, which was lit by his companion.
When the firecracker did not explode, one of the men doused it in water and left it on the road.
At around 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, 11-yearold Richard Reyes and 13-year-old Carl Kenneth Amaas were seen in the footage playing with leftover firecrackers.
Sugui said Carl collected leftover firecrackers and lit them. The blast triggered the Yolanda firecracker that Richard was carrying at the time.
Richard’s mother Corrie and Carl’s mother Naneth said their children disobeyed their orders not to toy with firecrackers.
They lamented other parents’ comments that they were remiss in watching over their children.
Richard still could not open his eyes, which suffered burns. Doctors also amputated his right hand, his mother said.
Carl had to have some of the skin on his thigh grafted on his face, which sustained burns, Naneth said.
Sugui said Sablay and his group of friends face charges of serious physical injury and violating President Duterte’s executive order banning illegal firecrackers.