Police arrest woman for selling chemicals

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested Wednesday in barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City a 49-year-old woman for selling without a permit potassium chlorate and sulfur, ingredients found in explosives, and an improvised fuse.

Delia Bensi, of sitio Sunlight in barangay Babag, an authorized firecracker manufacturer, sold a kilo of potassium chlorate for P120, half a kilo of sulfur, and a pack of improvised fuse for P50.

SPO1 Jomar Ybanez, team leader of Task Force Kalikasan said, the ingredients were intended for blasting Mactan stones.

Bensi is an authorized manufacturer of firecrackers and is licensed to buy and transport chemicals but is not allowed to sell these ingredients to anybody.

Firecracker makers usually get their supply from Manila.

When the police learned about Bensi’s illegal activity, a poseur buyer was sent to confirm the information.

Bensi was arrested for the same offense in July last year.