Illegal firecracker sale: Ex-mayor gets 10 years

MANILA, Philippines — A former mayor and now vice mayor of Bansalan, Davao del Sur has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for allowing the illegal sale of firecrackers.

Edwin Reyes was found guilty of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices for issuing permits to sell firecrackers at a public market from Dec. 21, 2009 to Jan. 1, 2010, the Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division said in a 41-page decision released yesterday.

The anti-graft court also ordered Reyes’ perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

His co-accused, Rita Domingo, former municipal permits and licensing officer, and Solomon de Castilla, former municipal police chief, were meted the same penalties.

In filing the case, the Office of the Ombudsman said Reyes issued permits despite a municipal ordinance prohibiting the “storing, displaying, selling and blowing up of firecrackers” at the market.

The ombudsman said the permits were also issued without a fire safety inspection certificate from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The Sandiganbayan noted that a fire occurred at the  Bansalan public market on Dec. 27, 2009, which was caused by a lit cigarette that landed on a firecracker display.

It made “matters worse” when Reyes did not revoke the permits despite the incident, the court said.