Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 541 firecrackers and fireworks were confiscated in three operations, and three suspects were arrested, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) announced Thursday.
“The police operation[s] stemmed [from] the proactive cyber patrolling on social media platforms… to intensify investigation and monitoring [of] the illegal sale of firecrackers,” the ACG said in a statement.
“The operatives engaged with them and agreed [to] meet up that resulted [in] the successful arrest of the suspects,” it added.
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One male suspect was arrested on Dec. 6, Friday, at 2:12 p.m. along Abad Santos Street in Tondo, Manila by the city’s District Anti-Cybercrime Team.
Another male suspect was arrested by the Central Luzon Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit on Dec. 11, Wednesday, at 11:58 p.m. in Barangay East Bajac-Bajac in Olongapo City, Zambales.
The third male suspect was arrested by the ACG Cyber Financial Crime Unit along Lapu-Lapu Avenue in Malabon City on Dec. 16, Monday, at 4:52 p.m.
Data from the ACG showed that in the three operations, police confiscated a total of 300 pieces of “Five Star” firecracker; 80 pieces of “Kwitis”; 50 pieces of “Pastillas”; 35 pieces of “Kingkong”; 30 pieces of “Whistle Bomb”; 20 pieces each of “Kabase” and “Tuna”; three pieces of “Judas Belt” with 100 rounds each; two pieces of “Goodbye Philippines”; and one piece of “Fountain”.
The total value of the seized firecrackers and fireworks was estimated to be P14,370.
The PNP ACG did not name the male suspects nor did not provide a breakdown of confiscated firecrackers and fireworks per operation.
“They are using these online platforms to sell their products. The firecrackers they were selling were illegal, thus our cyber cops engaged them,” ACG public information officer Lt. Wallen Arancillo told reporters in Filipino in an interview at Camp Crame on Thursday.
The PNP Civil Security Group announced on Wednesday that it was cracking down on the online sale of illegal firecrackers and fireworks in the lead-up to New Year’s Eve.
READ: PNP cracks down on online sale of illegal fireworks for holidays
“Buy at authorized dealers, never buy online. They have stores you can buy at and it’s displayed there which authorized fireworks you can buy because they are not allowed to sell authorized fireworks,” CSG Director Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco said in Filipino.