Cops keep tight watch on firecracker dealers

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Police have been keeping a tight watch on at least 236 fireworks makers and dealers in Bulacan to make sure they have not been dealing with prohibited and dangerous firecrackers for the New Year revelry.

Senior Inspector Braulio Pascua, of the regional police firearms and explosives division, said their Oplan Iwas Paputok has succeeded with only three firecracker-related accidents reported so far, compared to 185 cases the previous year.

No one was hurt in the three incidents, he said.

Pascua said those found manufacturing, selling and possessing prohibited firecrackers such as pla-pla, super lolo and lolo thunder, will be arrested and charged.

Police have also been enforcing the Department of Health’s ban on watusi which has caused many cases of poisoning, especially among children.

"In Bulacan alone, we have confiscated some P30,000 worth of watusi," he said. — With Ric Sapnu