A 10-year-old girl lost her left hand after a “dart bomb” set up by a 14-year-old boy exploded in Sta. Cruz, Manila last January 5.
According to Dano Tingcungco’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, CCTV footage showed the victim was playing in her roller blades when she held on to a window where the “dart bomb” was placed.
“Nag-balance siya doon sa bintana na may paputok po. ‘Yung klase ng paputok po ay kapag nahawakan mo ay sasabog. Ngayon po, pag sandal po ng anak ko, biglang sumabog po. Tumalsik po ‘yung anak ko, nauntog po yung mukha. ‘Yung left hand niya ay ‘yun po ang pinaka-damaged talaga,” the victim’s father said.
(She tried to balance herself against the window where the firecracker was placed. It’s the kind of firework that explodes when touched. When my daughter leaned on it, it suddenly went off. The force threw her back and she hit her face. Her left hand was the part that was truly damaged.)
The victim was rushed to Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center. Her left hand had to be totally amputated after losing her fingers.
The victim’s father said that the attending physician told them that amputation is also recommended so an artificial hand could be fitted in the future.
Meanwhile, the teenager who set up the firecracker was brought to the Manila Reception and Action Center (RAC).
Both families met last January 7.
“Nag-hearing naman po kami. Yung magulang naman po ay humihingi ng pasensya sa amin. Dahil 14-years-old yung bata, na-turnover naman sa RAC. Sa criminal case naman po, hindi naman masampahan,” the victim’s father said.
(We had a hearing. The parents were asking for our forgiveness. Since the boy is only 14 years old, he was turned over to the RAC . As for a criminal case, it cannot be filed against him [due to his age].)
“Yung unang hearing po namin, puro sorry lang po…wala naman pong ibang in-offer, basta pasensya, humingi ng dispensa sa akin. Ako naman, very calm lang ako kasi ayaw ko naman sabayan yung galit, sa legal kami umaasa,” he added.
(During our first hearing, it was all just apologies… they didn’t offer anything else, just asked for patience and forgiveness. I remained very calm because I didn’t want to let my anger take over; we are relying on the legal process.)
The victim’s parents are now looking into possible legal actions to hold the boy, which includes filing for damages.
The victim’s family is worried about how she will move forward with a missing hand.
“Forever niyang dadalhin yung putol ng kamay niya. ‘Yung galit nandun din po, pero hindi ko magawang magalit kasi nga minor ‘yung bata,” the father said, adding that her daughter has been crying every night.
(She will carry the loss of her hand forever. The anger is there, but I can’t bring myself to be angry because the child is a minor.)
Meanwhile, the suspect’s mother said she is sorry for what happened.
“Humihingi po ako ng patawad sa magulang ng biktima kahit hindi sapat ang [paghingi] ng tawad. Kung may maitulong kami, kung ano kaya namin,” she said.
(I am asking for forgiveness from the victim’s parents, even though an apology is not enough. If there is any way we can help, we will do what we can.)
“Hindi naman po siguro kagustuhan ng anak ko na nangyari nang ganun. Kasi sino bang taong may gusto na [mangyari] ng ganun di ba? Hindi naman siguro nasadya ng anak ko o sinadya ng anak ko na putulin ang kamay ng bata kasi tao rin po ang anak ko, ‘di naman siguro ganun kasama ‘yun.”
(I don’t think my son wanted that to happen. After all, who would want something like that to occur, right? I don’t believe my son intended for the girl’s hand to be severed because my son is also a human being; he isn’t that bad of a person.)
The victim’s parents have also reported the incident to the police. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News
