MORE than hundred persons were arrested in Metro Manila as police intensified its drive against the sale of illegal or banned firecrackers in Metro Manila on New Year’s Eve, reports said Tuesday.
Reports at the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) said that a total of 210 persons have been arrested in 449 operations conducted against illegal and banned firecrackers across the metropolis.
NCRPO chief, Director Leonardo Espina said that arrested persons have already been charged with violation of RA 7183, the law that regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firecrackers.
The NCRPO chief said that the operations have resulted to the seizure of one truckload loads of assorted firecrackers and pyrotechnics in Manila, 826 boxes and 660 pieces of Piccolos.
Two pick-up loads of assorted firecrackers were also seized in Quezon City while the Eastern Police District (EPD) had also confiscated two jeeploads of assorted firecrackers and pyrotechnics.
The NCRPO reports added that 64 stalls and 35 ambulant vendors for firecrackers and pyrotechnics were closed down.
Espina added that at least nine persons have been arrested in different parts of the metropolis for indiscriminate firing with six firearms and three empty shells being recovered as evidence.
Meanwhile, the Western Visayas Police regional office, under Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., had recorded as of 6am Tuesday 21 firecracker incidents and eight cases of stray bullets resulting to injuries.