CEBU CITY –– The police on Thursday destroyed over P1 million worth of firecrackers which they seized from stores that have not secured permits to sell firecrackers and pyrotechnic products.
Among the illegal products were bingala, sky beauty fireworks, roman candle, fountain, colorful shots, whistle bomb, shotgun, libintador, rambo, pop-up, thunder fireworks, and sprinklers.
The seized firecrackers were soaked in water to render them useless at the Central Visayas police headquarters.
Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana, deputy director for administration of the Central Visayas police, said the items were seized during various operations in the region since December 25.
“These firecrackers were not sold in the firecracker zones and so they are not covered with permits,” he said.
Police officials were verifying the names of the owners of the firecrackers, who face a case for violating the law regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
“We will definitely file a case against the owners or the vendors so that they will learn a lesson,” Usana said.
He said stalls selling firecrackers must secure a permit and must be set up at a designated firecracker zone as mandated by Republic Act No. 7183 or the law regulating the manufacture, sale, and distribution of fireworks and firecrackers.
The Cebu City administration had designated an area at the South Road Properties as the place where vendors can sell their firecrackers.
Usana said they earlier received reports that a number of vendors sold firecrackers outside the firecracker zone.
Hence, he said operations were conducted.