Kidapawan City chief of police, Chief Insp. Leo Ajero said most of the vendors apprehended by the Philippine National Police during the saturation drives were minors.
Police, however, released them Christmas morning.
Police operatives seized from the vendors pyrotechnic materials, among them five star, super lolo, Judas belt.
The Kidapawan City police strengthened its campaign against selling firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials upon the orders of Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco. A firecracker ban has been imposed by both the city and provincial government.
Ajero said that from December 1 to Christmas Eve, his intelligence operatives seized pyrotechnic materials sold secretly within the perimeter of mega market.
“Before December we already started monitoring the entry of firecrackers and powerful pyrotechnic materials in Kidapawan,” Ajero said.
At least five sacks of firecrackers confiscated during the saturation drive here was estimated to be worth P30,000. Water was poured on them in front of the city police office last Monday.
Ajero said the pyrotechnic materials being sold in Kidapawan City came from the neighboring provinces of North Cotabato.
Ajero also confirmed reports that at least four local firecracker manufacturers have started making pyrotechnic materials for the forthcoming New Year’s celebration.
“We have the names of these manufacturers but we are still doing investigation and looking for enough evidences that could pin them down of their alleged involvement in manufacturing firecrackers,” Ajero said. (Williamor A. Magbanua/MindaNews)