Authorities conducted a surveillance operation in Barangay Recreo, Pontevedra town in Negros Occidental, on Saturday, December 28, and confiscated PHP 10,000 worth of illegal firecrackers. The suspects, however, escaped after a brief chase.
Police Captain Darryl Kuhutan, chief of the Pontevedra Police, said that they launched the operation after receiving information about ambulant vendors using a top-down tricycle to sell illegal firecrackers in Pontevedra and nearby areas, including Hinigaran, La Carlota, and La Castellana.
The Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), along with the Pontevedra Municipal Police Station, monitored the situation and initiated the operation, he said.
Kuhutan added that during the chase, police officers identified the suspects and pursued them. The suspects abandoned some of the illegal firecrackers along the roadside, which authorities seized.
Confiscated items included ten packs of triangle firecrackers, two packs of kwitis, four packs of candle bombs, one pack of Boy Bawang firecrackers, two packs of whistle bombs, nine pieces of super kamara, six packs of five-star, 12 pieces of kamara, and two sets of Katay.
Police secured these items for documentation and disposal.
Kuhutan reiterated that the prohibition on selling illegal firecrackers in Pontevedra prioritizes public safety.
Despite the regulations, the suspects allegedly tried to distribute the items without obtaining proper permits. Investigators are working to identify and capture those involved in the illegal operation.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.