Public urged to video ‘cracker ban violators
TWO days before welcoming the New Year, authorities urged the public to help them in identifying firecracker ban violators by taking videos or reporting to the nearest police stations.
Police Regional Office (PRO 11) spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Andrea dela Cerna said during the AFP-PNP press corps forum yesterday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel that their security monitoring is already up against erring individuals who will not heed the local ordinances and the Executive Order 28 that regulates the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics signed by the President June this year.
“We would like to remind the public that we will be very active in patrolling and of course we ask their cooperation na bantayan niyo po ang mga kapitbahay. If in case na may magpaputok or sa tingin niyo po meron kayong kapit-bahay na may planong magpaputok kuhanin niyo ang cellphone
ninyo, videohan ninyo and isend niyo sa PNP yong report and details para mahuli agad yong mga suspected na magpaputok,” Dela Cerna said.
The EO 28 encourages the local government units (LGUs) to stage community fireworks display on New Year’s Eve in order to minimized firecracker related injuries or fatalities.
Dela Cerna said that they have not recorded a single incident of illegal possession, use and sale of illegal fire crackers, stray bullet, indiscriminate firing and fire burning incident due to fire crackers.
They have also deployed a total of 3,212 personnel. Of which, 92 are police commissioned officers and 2,700 noncommissioned officers with 372 additional force multipliers.
She added that the PNP will also organize rapid arresting teams to respond to reported indiscriminate firing in the areas during the celebration and conduct hot pursuit operation if guns will be fired.
“I would like to remind the statement of chief PNP regarding the 11 commandment: Though shall not fire their guns indiscriminately as it may hit, kill and injure thy neighbors and yong number 12 po: If thy neighbor fires gun indiscriminately though shall make sure to take photos and videos to be reported to the PNP and they can also upload it para makita agad,” dela Cerna said.