Cirenia Ybañez, a 52-year old firecracker seller for 12 years in Babag, Lapu-Lapu, talks about the firecrackers she sells along Opon-Airport-Sangri Road. Different types of firecrackers behind her are Judas’ belt and Rambo. (CDN file photo dated December 28, 2013)
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) has confiscated almost 200,000 illegal firecrackers during its inspection of stores nationwide.
The products amount to over P3.6 million.
January 1 data of PNP showed out of a total of 193,320 seized items, the top prohibited firecrackers the cops hauled were Judas’ belt (goodbye Philippines) at 34,812.
The pieces were followed by five star at 29,390, kwitis at 12,313 and pop pop at 9,293, among many others.
PNP earlier released an official list of prohibited firecrackers.
The pyrotechnics included as piccolo, watusi, giant whistle bomb, giant bawang, large Judas’ belt, pillbox, boga, kwiton, goodbye earth, goodbye bading, goodbye Delima, goodbye Napoles, goodbye Philippines, Coke-in-can, atomic bomb, super lolo, trianggulo, and other unlabeled and imported firecrackers.
The allowed firecrackers were butterfly, fountain, jumbo regular and special, Roman candles, sparklers, trompillos, luces, mabuhay, and whistle devices.
PNP said any violator of Republic Act 7183 or a person who “manufactures, sells, distributes or uses” prohibited firecrackers will be punished by a fine of “not less than P20,000 nor more than P30,000.”
If convicted, the culprit will face imprisonment of not less than six months or more than one year.