No New Year’s revelry fatality in Central Luzon

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Residents in Region 3 celebrated the New Year peacefully with no fatality recorded in the seven provinces in Central Luzon, the Police Regional Office 3 ( PRO3) disclosed on Wednesday.

Chief Supt. Joel Coronel, PRO3 director confirmed that while there were 90 firecracker-related injuries recorded during the New Year revelry, there was no fatal casualty and no stray bullet cases reported.

Coronel added that the figure was remarkably lower compared to the 390 reported incidents during the same period in 2017.

“The significant development could be attributed to the series of inspections conducted by the PRO3 command group and staff together with the different provincial/city police offices among firecracker manufacturers and stores as well as the massive information drive and campaign initiated by the PNP together with the different government agencies on the need to regulate or avoid the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices along with the widest dissemination of the “designated firecracker zones” imposed by the local government unit,” he said.

He also cited the maximum deployment of almost 6, 500 PNP personnel region wide that contributed to the decrease of incidents during the entire festivities.

From December 16, 2018 to January 1, 2019, Coronel disclosed that PRO3 personnel conducted 26 operations which yielded in the arrest of 16 persons for Violation of RA 7183 (An act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices) and EO 28 (Providing for the Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic devices).

He also said that no firearm of PNP personnel was involved in indiscriminate firing during the eve and the actual celebration of New Year. “I commend the entire Central police force for a job well done, putting aside their personal convenience and comfort in exchange for a peaceful, safe and injury-free Holiday celebration. Your police in Central Luzon also appreciates the continuous cooperation and support of our stakeholders and the general public which immensely contributed to a safe merriment,”