MANILA, Philippines - “De Lima” sent “Bato” and other police officials scampering for safety yesterday during what was supposed to be a normal inspection of pyrotechnic stores in Bulacan.
Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was showing media representatives the “De Lima,” a banned firecracker, when it suddenly emitted white smoke.
The firecracker was named after Sen. Leila de Lima, a staunch critic of President Duterte and his war on illegal drugs.
As Dela Rosa and his police officials fled, an aide threw the oversized firecracker away. It did not explode.
“I don’t know if it’s a bad omen, but what is important is nobody got hurt,” said Dela Rosa.
The Philippine National Police chief was showing off some of the banned firecrackers that the Bulacan police had seized in several operations when the one he was holding suddenly released white fumes.
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“There is smoke, there is smoke,” he was overhead shouting in Filipino, which sent him and other police officials into a panic.
Dela Rosa handed the firecracker over to Bulacan police director Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr. who, in turn, threw it on the ground as police officers, cameramen, reporters and some civilians scampered in different directions.
Officials of Barangay Turo in Bocaue, Bulacan doused the firecracker with water.
Dela Rosa was later informed that what he saw was not smoke but gunpowder.
Other firecrackers were named “Pacquiao” in reference to boxing icon Sen. Manny Pacquiao, “Bin Laden” after al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden and “Goodbye Philippines.”
Dela Rosa later told Bocaue Mayor Eleanor Villanueva-Tugna, “It was not overacting but an act of survival.”
The firecrackers presented to Dela Rosa were seized in several police operations against illegal manufacturers and distributors.
At least 11 persons were arrested and charged for violating Republic Act 7183, or the Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices.
Dela Rosa appealed to manufacturers and distributors not to sell banned firecrackers.
“These traders should not only think of the profit. They should also think of the welfare of the consumers,” he said.
In Metro Manila, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde ordered a crackdown on illegal firecrackers and smuggled pyrotechnics to lessen the number of injuries during the celebration of the New Year.
He warned his five district directors and 38 station commanders of severe sanctions should it be found that illegal firecrackers and smuggled pyrotechnics are openly sold in their areas of jurisdiction.
“We should totally ban the sale of prohibited firecrackers and smuggled pyrotechnics in the streets of Metro Manila for us to attain our goal of reducing the number of casualties during the New Year revelry,” Albayalde said.
The Department of Health recorded 25 persons injured from firecrackers during the Christmas celebrations.
In past New Year celebrations, more than a hundred were rushed to various hospitals in Metro Manila due to injuries either from firecrackers or from bullets.
Albayalde warned policemen and civilian gun owners of stiff sanctions and criminal cases should they be found firing their guns indiscriminately to welcome 2017.
He also accompanied Dela Rosa in inspecting several areas in Metro Manila for illegal firecrackers and smuggled pyrotechnics that were reportedly being sold openly.
They failed to find any of these in the displays of the stores in Divisoria and Binondo in Manila, Baclaran in Parañaque and Cubao in Quezon City. Albayalde presented to Dela Rosa though several bundles of piccolo, a banned imported firecracker, seized from earlier operations.
Joven Ong, Philippine Fireworks Association president, and Vimie Erese, Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. president, lamented that piccolo is openly sold in Divisoria.
They claimed that piccolo accounts for more than 50 percent of firecracker-related injuries. – With Non Alquitran, Ramon Efren Lazaro
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