By Freddie Velez
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – The Central Luzon police was commended here on Thursday for its feat in having zero indiscriminate firing by Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel and zero firecrackers fatality during the New Year revelry.
Firecrackers / Manila Bulletin file photo
“I commend the entire Central police force for a job well done, putting aside their personal convenience and comfort in exchange for a peaceful, safe and injury-free Holiday celebration," said Region 3 police director, Brig. Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia.
He said, the police in Central Luzon appreciate the cooperation and support of the stakeholders and the general public.
In the 77 operations conducted by police authorities within the region from December 16, 2019 to January 1, 2020, 10 persons were arrested for Violation of RA 7183 (An act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices) and EO 28 (Providing for the Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic devices), while one civilian was arrested for illegal discharge of firearm in Olongapo City on Tuesday.
Sermonia said there were 60 firecracker-related injuries recorded in Central Luzon but no fatalities and no victims of stray bullets, lower than the 90 reported incidents in 2018.
He said this could be attributed to the series of inspections conducted by the PRO3 command group and staff, together with the different provincial/city police officers, on firecracker manufacturers and stores, as well as the massive information drive and campaign initiated by the PNP, together with the different government agencies, on the need to regulate or avoid the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices along with the widest dissemination of the “designated firecracker zones” imposed by the local government units.
The maximum deployment of 6,000 PNP personnel region-wide also contributed to the decrease in the number of firecracker-related injuries during the festivities.