Three young children were seriously injured at around 8:30 a.m. Sunday, in what police believed to be caused by a pyrotechnic that blew up when one of the victims pounded it with a rock, in Barangay Camanjac, Dumaguete City.

The children were identified as Myrna Corsame, 6 years old; Sheila May Sibonga, 2; and Ryan Marcoba, 2 months old, all residents of Purok Kamaisan in Camanjac, a police blotter report showed.

Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino, Dumaguete police chief, said the children were rushed to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital where they are now confined. He added that Corsame was reported to have lost an arm due to the explosion.

He said it was difficult for the police to determine who was responsible for the reckless disposal of the explosive, that he believed could be a remnant of a fireworks display activity. It was reportedly found in a pile of garbage.

The explosive that was of canister type, may have also been launched elsewhere and landed in the city without going off, Tolentino said, adding the impact or friction caused by pounding on it could have set it off.

He warned the public against touching or playing with suspicious items and to call the police instead.*JFP

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