NEWSFLASH

3 DEAD IN BULACAN FIREWORKS FACTORY BLAST

Bocaue, Bulacan, Dec. 21, 1998 - Three children were killed in an explosion which destroyed a factory of pyrotechnic materials in Barangay Bunlo. Four others were seriously injured. The fatalities were infants brought to the factory by their parents who were employed but could not find baby sitters for the children.

Supt. Anastacio Inoncillo, Bocaue police chief, the victims were wrapping the pyrotechnic materials when a finished product being tested by a bystander exploded.

Jessie Barcenas, factory owner, is now detained for violation of labor laws. Inoncillo said most of the workers at Barcenas' factory were below 18 years old.

This is the first explosion here in December and the third for this year. The second incident took place last month and killed a man.

Several stores in Barangay Turo here were also burned during the first quarter of the year due to accidents caused by firecrackers stored and being sold by the owners.

---

Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi