'Cracker injuries down 68%: PNP, DOH
MANILA -- Both the Philippine National Police and the Department of Health (DOH) noted a huge drop in number of firecracker-related injuries, although the two agencies differed in incidents of stray bullet injuries.
PNP said there was none, DHO says there is one in Caloocan City from December 21, 2017 to January 2, 2018.
PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa, in a statement, said firecracker injuries were at an all-time low because of the implementation of Executive Order 28, which prohibits the use of firecrackers outside designated areas in the community.
Dela Rosa said this year's firecracker injuries were 68-percent lower compared to last year and 77-percent lower compared to the annual average over the last five years.
There were 191 firecracker-related injuries nationwide since Dec. 21, 2017 to Jan. 1, 2018.
Police, meanwhile, arrested 100 individuals: 26 for illegal discharge of firearms, including 4 policemen and 2 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; and 74 persons for illegal possession of firecrackers.
Prohibited firecrackers worth P390,229 were confiscated.
"I would like to congratulate our police personnel for the effective operations and campaign on illegal firecrackers which resulted in an all-time low (record) of incidents and casualties," Dela Rosa said.
He also attributed the low number of injuries to the local government units' support for the implementation of EO 28, with the designation of a total of 3,945 community fireworks display zones and the public vigilance against indiscriminate firing.
The PNP, on the other hand, was lauded for 100-percent deployment during Christmas and New Year's Eve as well as its intensified campaign against manufacturers of illegal firecrackers.