ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanews/21 December) – A businesswoman and her niece were charged by the police for allegedly selling firecrackers in this city which recently passed an ordinance banning the use, sale, possession, distribution, storage and manufacture of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
The police filed a complaint against Elsa Bangayan, 54, and her niece, Karen, 28, both residents of Alvarez St., Barangay Zone IV, for allegedly violating R.A. 7183, the law regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
Supt. Ariel Huesca, Zamboanga City Public Safety Company director, said Bangayan and her niece were arrested by policemen in an entrapment operation at around 10:40 a.m. Thursday along Gen. Vicente Alvarez, their residence and business place.
Huesca said the entrapment was carried out after his office received information that the respondents were selling firecrackers and pyrotechnic products despite City Ordinance No. 431 banning the use, sale, possession, distribution, storage and manufacture of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
The City Council passed the Ordinance last September 30 and Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar signed it into law on October 8.
Huesca said due to the approval of the ordinance, no businessman in this city has a license to sell firecrackers and pyrotechnic products.
He added that a mayor’s permit is required before anyone can acquire a license to sell firecrackers and pyrotechnic products from the Philippine National Police through the Firearms and Explosives Security Agencies and Guards Supervision Section. (MindaNews)
