More than 520,000 illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics have been confiscated so far, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday, New Year’s Eve.
“As of yesterday po, umabot na po sa mahigit na 520,000 na po ng mga iligal na paputok and other pyrotechnic devices po ang ating nakumpiska. More or less ang amount po nyan ay mga nasa P2.4 million,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo told Unang Balita in an interview.
(As of yesterday, we have confiscated more than 520,000 illegal fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices. They are worth around P2.4 million.)
In a separate interview on Dobol B TV, Fajardo said 19 people, including two minors, have been arrested in connection with illegal firecrackers and fireworks.
Fajardo noted the high number of cases of firecracker-related injuries caused by boga, an improvised cannon made from large PVC pipes and fueled by denatured alcohol.
“Malaki na po yung insidente natin involving boga po. As of yesterday po, nasa around 80 na po yung ating na-record na na-injure as a result po ng paggamit po ng boga. Nakakalungkot dahil mga minors yung mga biktima po dyan,” she said.
(The number of firecracker-related injuries due to boga is already high. As of yesterday, we have recorded around 80 people injured as a result of using boga. It’s sad because the victims are minors.)
Over 7,000 bogas have been confiscated so far, according to Fajardo.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said a total of 163 cases of firecracker-related injuries have been recorded since December 22.
The PNP has also recorded 15 cases of indiscriminate dischargeof firearms ahead of the New Year 2025 revelry. Four people were injured due to indiscriminate firing, and one was wounded due to a stray bullet.
—Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
