Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines–Two fireworks shops were closed down and nine persons have been placed under custodial investigation following an inspection in Bocaue town, Bulacan province–the country’s fireworks capital.
Police authorities inspect firecrackers in Bocaue, Bulacan. Photo by Julliane Love de Jesus, INQUIRER.net
Arf Fireworks and Diamond Fireworks were padlocked by authorities after they were found violating the safety guidelines and license to deal requirements provided by Republic Act no. 7183.
Officials of Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office and Bulacan Provincial Police did a surprise inspection in a compound of fireworks stores at Barangay (village) Turo.
Nine vendors, mostly in their 20s, of Arf Fireworks have been taken to police custody when authorities found that the storage of fireworks supplies was adjacent to the store.
Under the safety rules of RA 7183, the warehouse of fireworks merchandise should be at least 50 meters away from the station where the firecrackers are sold.
In the license to deal permit the PNP FEO issues, it said: “the rest of the stock must be kept in a warehouse/bodega located at a safe distance away from the store or establishment and from inhabited buildings.”
The shop, which is registered under the name of Peter Paul Reyes Tuazon of Sta. Maria, Bulacan, allegedly had illegal permits.
Illegal firecrackers. Photo by Julliane Love de Jesus/INQUIRER.net
Police Director Melito Mabilin, PNP Civil Security Group head, told reporters that aside from their store’s closure the owners will be slapped with penalties of not less that P20,000 and no more than P30,000.
Police also recommended the closure for Diamond Fireworks for selling more than 1,000 kilograms of pyrotechnic devices, exceeding the limit of 50 kg of merchandise.
While the police officials were inspecting the stores, Bocaue officer-in-charge Vice Mayor Dioscoro Juan arrived to give the police a go-signal from the local government to shut down the violating stores.
“All the licenses we issued in 2014 will expire in June 2015 o they will have to renew next year. We will use their violations as basis against them para hindi na sila mabigyan ng permit (so they will no longer be given a permit),” Mabilin said.
But after the closure of two stores, some shops were found to have complied with the safety rules and license requirements.
Another store Analyn Mendoza Fireworks, Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao, chief of the FEO explosives and management division, saw its permit properly displayed inside the shop.
Authorities post guidelines for fireworks stores. Photo by Julliane Love de Jesus/INQUIRER.net
Bulalacao also lauded the vendors for displaying the prescribed amount of merchandise.
“Nakasunod kayo sa quantity display. Hindi lang kami naandito para maghanap ng pagkakamali ng mga nagtitinda (You have followed the prescribed quantity display. We are not here just to look for erring vendors.),” he told one of the vendors.
In Barangay Biñan First, 21-year-old Jason Ochoa was arrested when the police conducted operation for manufacturing and selling illegal firecrackers, said Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina, Bulacan Provincial Police director.
Police recovered from Ochoa 40 pieces of banned firecracker Atomic Bomb worth P800.
Divina said his two cohorts escaped when police took from their possession two sacks of Trianggulo or “Pla-pla” kept in an abandoned nipa hut.
Ochoa is currently under the custody of the Bulacan Police’s provincial special operation group.
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