GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/29 December) — Police operatives in South Cotabato province seized around 1,500 boxes of the banned piccolo firecracker in a series of operations over the weekend in Tupi town.[]
Senior Supt Jose Briones, South Cotabato police director, said Monday they confiscated the illegal firecrackers from three traders who were confirmed to have been openly selling them in the area.
He said he had ordered the Tupi police station to step up its operations against the selling of illegal firecrackers after the area posted 10 confirmed injuries due to piccolo since November 30.
A report released by Chief Insp. Larry Salcedo, Tupi police chief, said they recovered a total of 1,583 boxes of piccolo worth around P25,000 in their operations in the last two days.
He said the illegal items were seized from three traders identified as Jocelyn Saquil Jamindang, Datu Taya Talib Colano and Noradin Cabuyao Sampulna, who reportedly operate in Barangays Poblacion and Bunao.
Salcedo said he will recommend the revocation of the licenses of the three traders for violation of Republic Act (RA) 7183 or the “Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices.
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Briones said they will continue with the intensified operations against illegal firecrackers in the next three days within the province’s 10 towns and lone city.
He directed all chiefs of police in the area to enforce the provisions of RA 7183 and make sure that the designated areas for the selling of the regulated firecrackers and fireworks are properly followed.
The official urged local traders, especially the sari-sari stores and ambulant vendors, to refrain from selling firecrackers and fireworks.[]
