Davao City safety office monitoring cases vs 5 firecracker ban violators
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Public Safety and Security Office is closely monitoring the cases filed against five individuals apprehended for violating the city’s firecracker ban on New Year’s Eve.
PSSO head Angel Sumagaysay told the media on Monday that he directed concerned police station commanders to press charges against those caught violating the firecracker ban ordinance.
City Ordinance No. 060-02 penalizes violators of the firecracker ban with a fine of P1,000 or imprisonment of 20 days to one month, or both, for the first offense.
Penalties increase to a fine of P3,000 or imprisonment of one to three months, or both, for the second offense, and a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of three to six months, or both, for the third offense.
Sumagaysay stressed that the city government has repeatedly reminded the public that the firecracker ban remains in effect, noting that the ordinance has been publicly announced for a long time.
He stated that the city was generally peaceful during the New Year. He thanked the Davao City Police Office for their prompt enforcement of the ordinance.
Police Capt. Hazel Tuazon, spokesperson for the DCPO, stated during Kapehan sa Davao at SM Ecoland on Monday that the five individuals caught using firecrackers were placed under police custody, and cases have been filed against them.
Tuazon confirmed that authorities will pursue the regular filing of charges against violators who were not immediately apprehended.
Acting DCPO Director Police Col. Mannan Muarip said in a statement that initial reports indicated that a minor was seen igniting a prohibited pyrotechnic device that was allegedly stored in a private residence.
The minor was rescued and subsequently referred to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) for appropriate intervention and protection.
Muarip stressed that while the minor is not being held liable, primary responsibility and legal accountability rest on the adult who owned, possessed, or stored the firecrackers.
He emphasized that the possession, storage, and use of firecrackers are strictly prohibited under the ordinance, regardless of who eventually ignites them.
Muarip warned that adults who allow minors access to prohibited pyrotechnics will be held liable under the law, reiterating that there will be no tolerance or exemptions for violations of the firecracker ban.
He added that the DCPO continues to intensify its campaign against illegal firecrackers through police visibility, patrol operations, prompt response to reports, and coordination with the community as a whole.
Muarip urged the public to act responsibly, particularly in safeguarding children, and refrain from keeping or using prohibited firecrackers, noting that public safety is a shared responsibility.