Police commanders to face sanctions in case of firecracker injuries

MANILA, Philippines – Police commanders will be answerable for the number of injuries caused by the use of illegal firecrackers, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said yesterday.

Marquez directed all police commanders to address the sale of illegal firecrackers in their respective areas of jurisdiction or they will be made to answer for the number of injuries during the holidays.

“The context of the campaign against illegal firecrackers is connected with the number of injuries on the ground. So my instruction to police regional directors is that the campaign should be bold enough such that those selling illegal firecrackers would be held responsible for death or injuries,” he said.

Marquez said the aim of the directive is to reduce the number of illegal firecrackers sold and reduce the number of injuries caused by these illegal firecrackers during the holiday.

The PNP launched operational guidelines on “Ligtas Paskuhan” 2015, which started on Dec. 16 and will last until Jan. 5, 2016.

Marquez advised the police commanders to coordinate with the local government units and local Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in conducting inspections on stores selling firecrackers.

“We want to reduce the injuries resulting from firecrackers, thus this package of measures goes down to the ground and focuses on law enforcement against those selling and manufacturing illegal firecrackers,” he said.

Marquez warned policemen that they would also be held responsible for allowing the sale of illegal firecrackers.

The PNP began inspecting fireworks stores in Bocaue, Bulacan as part of the efforts to prevent the manufacture, distribution and sale of illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

Officials from the Civil Security Group of the PNP headed by Director Elmer Soria and Bulacan police officials headed by Sr. Supt. Ferdinand Divina conducted the inspection of pyrotechnic stores in Barangay Turo.

The town of Bocaue is known as the fireworks capital of the country.

Soria led the inspection team in distributing flyers and leaflets about prohibited and illegal firecrackers.

The leaflets detail the amount of gunpowder allowed for firecrackers under the law.

The police officials admitted they could not just confiscate the illegal and prohibited firecrackers without the presence of local officials or their representatives.

On the other hand, policemen seized several illegal firecrackers being sold in Divisoria, Manila.

The Manila Police District (MPD) seized from a certain Leo Santos several boxes of illegal firecrackers, including piccolo, Saturn Missiles and Leopard King Missile.”

MPD-Station 11 chief Col. Romeo Macapaz said he would ban the sale and use of firecrackers in his area, including Divisoria, starting Dec. 24. – With Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ghio Ong, Sheila Crisostomo