Hundreds of improvised cannons popularly known as "boga" were destroyed by members of the Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) in Taytay, Rizal, on Dec. 24.
Rizal PPO Director Col. Felipe Maraggun said a total of 402 improvised cannons which were either made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, tin cans or hard plastic tubes, were smashed manually by the PPO officials, using a mallet or baseball club, during a ceremony at the PPO compound, Tuesday.
Rizal Police director Col. Felipe Maraggun holds one of the homemade cannons which were earlier confiscated by the police. (Photo from Rizal PPO)
The homemade cannons using a few drops of denatured alcohol and lit up produces a loud explosion mimicking the sound of a cannon.
The use of toy cannons has been banned since 2006 following the findings of the Department of Health on injuries to the eyes and face due to the use of the illegal noise-making device.
Manila Bulletin saw a group of young boys brandishing their PVC cannons on the roadside last week in Antipolo not knowing these were banned items.
The PPO’s public information office told the Manila Bulletin that as of 7 p.m. on Dec. 24, no other prohibited items were seized.