13-year-old PWD critically injured by discarded firecracker in Quezon City

• A 13-year-old boy with a disability is fighting for his life following a severe firecracker explosion in Barangay Pansol, Quezon City
• CCTV footage caught the moment a playmate handed the victim a discarded pyrotechnic that exploded immediately upon being lit
• The victim suffered catastrophic injuries to his thighs and legs, with surgeons currently attempting to prevent permanent amputation
• Family members and local residents are calling for greater accountability from individuals who leave unexploded fireworks in public spaces

What was meant to be a simple afternoon of play in the wake of New Year celebrations has turned into a desperate fight for survival for a 13-year-old boy in Barangay Pansol in Quezon City.

The victim, a child with a disability (PWD), remains in critical condition after a discarded firecracker—mistaken for a harmless toy—exploded with devastating force in his hands.

The harrowing incident, captured on local CCTV, shows the victim alongside two other children at a community basketball court.

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The footage reveals one of the children spotting a long, discarded object near a parked tricycle.

Believing the pyrotechnic to be a "dud" after a failed attempt to light it, the playmate handed the object to the 13-year-old and ignited it. In a heartbeat, the silence of the court was shattered by a violent blast.

The explosion's impact was concentrated on the boy’s lower body, causing severe lacerations and deep burns to his thighs.

His father, Jonathan Pacheco, rushed to the scene only to find his son’s legs wrapped in blood-soaked cloth.

"Nu'ng makita ko 'yung anak ko, kasi tinakpan nila ng tela 'yung [sugat]. Kaya nu'ng [tiningnan] ko, parang nanginig ako. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko," Jonathan recalled through tears. Despite the agony, the boy’s spirit remained defiant, telling his father, "‘Iuwi niyo na ako sa bahay, kaya ko ‘to.’ Sabi ko, ‘Sabog 'yung hita mo, kaya mo?’ ‘Oo, kaya ko,’ ‘yan ang sabi niya sa akin."

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The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

Medical teams are currently working tirelessly to perform limb-saving procedures, though the threat of amputation remains a grim possibility.

His mother, Emily, made a tearful plea to the public: "Sana 'yung nag-iwan ng paputok doon, makonsensiya naman kayo. Dahil nai-stroke 'yung anak ko. Kritikal na ngayon."

Local officials from Barangay Pansol stated that while the area was a designated fireworks zone, it had been cleared following the festivities.

It is believed the "fountain-type" firework was wedged in a blind spot under the tricycle, escaping the initial cleanup.

As the Department of Health (DOH) continues to monitor hundreds of fireworks-related injuries across the country this January 2026, this tragedy serves as a visceral reminder of the "silent killers" left behind on our streets.

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Authorities are once again urging parents and residents to treat any unexploded pyrotechnics as live explosives and to never allow children to handle "dud" fireworks.

In other news, a five-year-old girl’s life was tragically cut short on New Year's Day following a drowning accident at a local resort in San Enrique. The victim was enjoying a festive swim with her relatives to welcome 2026 when she reportedly moved from the kiddie area to the adult pool unnoticed. Despite being rushed to the Valladolid District Hospital for urgent medical intervention, attending physicians declared the young child dead on arrival. In the wake of the tragedy, provincial authorities are urging parents to maintain constant vigilance and undivided attention when supervising minors in public swimming facilities.

Still in other news, a vacation-bound van made an unbelievable landing on the second story of a residential building in Barangay Aluling after careening off a mountain road. All 14 individuals aboard the vehicle—a group of educators and students from Cagayan—required hospitalization for various injuries, though the homeowners miraculously escaped unharmed. The travelers were navigating a steep descent toward Sigay for a year-end retreat when the vehicle's brakes reportedly failed on a treacherous curve. Law enforcement is currently investigating potential negligence or mechanical neglect as the property owner pursues a formal complaint against the driver for the extensive damage.

Source: KAMI.com.gh