CEBU CITY, Philippines — The chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) issued a stern warning to illegal sellers of firecrackers: stop selling or risk being arrested.
Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, director of the CCPO, said police will be forced to arrest and confiscate items of those engaged in illegal selling of firecrackers.
To date, though, Dalogdog said they haven’t received any information yet about individuals illegally selling firecrackers in the city.
“Isa ka warning lang, pagka dili sila mupatuo, ato dakpon and i-confiscate ilang products,” Dalogdog said.
It can be recalled that police and the fire department started to accept requirements to process permits as retailers of firecrackers as early as November.
Those who don’t have permits will be considered illegal sellers.
Police Senior Master Sergeant Rene Bentulan of the Regional Civil Security Unit ( RCSU-7) said that they already received at least 200 applications for permits to sell from retailers coming from Negros Oriental, Cebu Province, and Siquijor.
Bentulan said that the registered manufacturer of firecrackers here is in Barangay Babag in Lapu-Lapu City.
Retailers from Negros Oriental, Cebu Province and Siquijor also get their items there. Bentulan said that there are no other manufacturers in Central Visayas other than the ones in Barangay Babag.
If these items will be transported, Bentulan said that retailers must again secure a permit to transport from the RCSU-7.
Dalogdog said that the firecracker display area in Cebu City is at the South Road Properties (SRP). However, he has yet to check if the display area will be open today.
Dalogdog said they will also deploy personnel at the SRP for security purposes. A fire truck and a few fire personnel will also monitor the display area.
/bmjo
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