The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deploying sufficient number of uniformed personnel to conduct random inspection in markets and other places where firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials are being sold for the New Year revelry.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the strategy is part of the safety measures to ensure that no illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials would be sold to the public, especially to the children.

“We will make sure that no vendor would be able to sell prohibited firecrackers. So we are warning these vendors not to sell these illegal firecrackers because they would be charged criminally,” said Fajardo.

She said the manufacture and sale of prohibited firecrackers are in violation of the Republic Act 7183 with at least six months imprisonment as penalty.

“Nobody wants to spend their New Year in jail so we appeal to them not to sell these prohibited items,” said Fajardo.

The PNP has intensified the operation against the production and sale of prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials and so far, Fajardo said they already confiscated around 34,000 pieces. 

Fajardo then appealed to the public not to patronize prohibited firecrackers and help the PNP in running after those who manufacture and sold them, citing the danger they pose to the public.

“We will continue conducting operations and these operations are part of our efforts to ensure a peaceful and safe celebration of the New Year,” said Fajardo.