P28,400 worth of confiscated firecrackers destroyed

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) disposed of a total of P28,400 worth of confiscated firecrackers and pyrotechnics devices here yesterday.

Lieutenant Colonel Noel Polines, deputy city director for operations of the BCPO, said that this activity was pursuant to the directive of the national headquarters and also in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Polines said these assorted firecrackers were confiscated by police stations and the Regional Civil Security Unit from December 27, 2023 to January 6, 2024.

The firecrackers were soaked in a drum of water before they were buried in a pit at the BCPO headquarters, according to Polines.

“Para malikawan ta nga ma recycle pa or magamit pa for safety and security,“ he said.

Polines said that police were deployed in all 61 villages here to secure the designated firecracker zones.

He noted that the cooperation of the public since the start of the holiday season attributed to a peaceful New Year’s celebration here.

Polines also stressed the effectiveness of their inspection and implementation of the firecracker laws, as it minimized the selling of illegal firecrackers outside the firecracker zones.

Meanwhile, the City Health Office (CHO) has reported nine firecracker-related injuries here from December 21 to January 3.

These victims were from Barangays Handumanan, Villamonte, Pahanocoy, Alangilan, Singcang-Airport, Mansilingan, and Estefania, and Barangay 36.

Based on the record of the CHO, one got injured in the right arm, two in the right hand, and three each in the left hand and eyes.