Illegal firecrackers, pyros destroyed

ILLEGAL firecrackers and pyrotechnics seized by authorities were destroyed at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 headquarters in Iloilo City on Jan. 3, 2019.

Senior Superintendent Jomil John Trio, chief of the PNP Regional Civil Service Unit 6, led the destruction and disposal of the seized pyrotechnics and firecrackers.

A representative from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Iloilo City Police Office-Explosives Ordnance Division (ICPO-EOD) also witnessed the disposal.

Trio said a similar disposal activities were also conducted in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.

Authorities doused the confiscated items with water and we remain as such for two to three days before burial.

Most of the confiscated items are illegal firecrackers such as whistle bomb, five star, big triangulo, among others.

Illegal firecrackers are those that exceed the allowable explosive weight of 0.02 gram per firecracker.

Some pyrotechnics and firecrackers were also destroyed for lack of labels indicating the dealer or supplier.

Under the dealer’s permit, the seller must indicate that their stocks came from authorized dealers or manufacturers.

In Western Visayas, Trio said they conducted 13 operations that lead to the confiscation of P154,775 worth of firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

Only one person was arrested.

Glen Patalagsa, 42, of Barangay 1, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental was caught selling outside the designated selling area.