Pasig cops burn seized firecrackers

The Eastern Police District (EPD) disposed of some five huge boxes of assorted firecrackers confiscated before the New Year revelries by burning them at the headquarters’ open grounds in Pasig City on Monday morning.

The task of destroying the items was carried out by the personnel of the Explosives Ordnance Division (EOD) of the EPD, who unwrapped the firecrackers and removed their explosive powdery materials.

The explosives afterwards were gathered in one place before the EOD set them on fire at a ceremony attended by Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo, EPD director, and the city police chiefs of San Juan, Pasig, Mandaluyong and Marikina.

Senior Supt. Danilo Maligalig, chief directorial staff of EPD, said they would normally water down confiscated firecrackers but this time they tapped the EOD to do the job of burning them and making sure they were totally destroyed.

Asked about the soundness of burning the items, Maligalig said it was their best option.

“We’re not totally sure if it’s safe to just soak the firecrackers in water. The second problem would be where to throw them,” Maligalig said.

The prohibited firecrackers, which included large powerful ones like pla-pla, Good-bye Universe, and Judas’ Belt were confiscated in several operations conducted by the EPD.

Also during the ceremony, the seals in the gun muzzle of 200 policemen were removed.

Maligalig said by the end of the New Year revelries, no policeman assigned at EPD was reported to have fired his gun during the New Year

revelries.