Police seized Friday at least seven large cartons of banned firecrackers from vendors in Divisoria as part of an ongoing drive against dangerous firecrackers.
Meisic police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut led his men in inspecting the wares of Divisoria sidewalk vendors following reports that banned firecrackers were being discreetly sold at the market.
Yabut also confirmed reports that enterprising vendors conceal the prohibited firecrackers among those that are legally manufactured in Bulacan. Most of those confiscated are firecrackers smuggled from China, he added.
Barangay chairmen in Divisoria, led by Vic Tan, assisted the police in the inspection. “The barangay chairmen in Divisoria will not allow the selling of dangerous and smuggled firecrackers, which could claim lives and properties since those products were not approved for use by concerned government agencies,” Tan said.
Yabut also warned the public to refrain from buying “Pop Pop,” a new firecracker from China that explodes when thrown against a hard surface.
“These firecrackers seem safe since you do not have to light it and children seem to enjoy it. However, it could cause fire when its embers ignite combustible material,” Yabut said.
Terrorists could even use the firecrackers to start fires at gasoline stations by merely throwing them as gasoline is being pumped, he added.
The seized firecrackers will be soaked in water and disposed of properly, according to Yabut. Vendors of the seized firecrackers shall initially be charged with violation of their selling permit and the law on pyrotechnics.
Yabut said the banned firecrackers are the Super Lolo, Plapla, Og, Thunder, 5-star, and watusi, but the Department of Health said all firecrackers should be classified as “illegal and banned.” – Nestor Etolle