Camp BGen Vicente P Lim- Camp BGen Vicente P Lim — PRO CALABARZON Regional Director PBGen Paul Kenneth T Lucas spearheaded today’s press briefing unveiling significant strides and collaborative efforts from various operating units of the Police Regional Office CALABARZON.
The briefing highlighted progress in ongoing endeavors to combat the sale, manufacture, and distribution of illegal firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
During the press briefing, PBGen Lucas emphasized the collective efforts of different Police Provincial Offices, highlighting their accomplishments in the campaign against illegal firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
RD Lucas reported that from December 16 until the present, PRO CALABARZON has conducted 198 police operations against illegal firecrackers, resulting in the arrest of 2 suspects and the confiscation of assorted illegal firecrackers totaling Php 123,468.
He also disseminated data regarding firecracker-related incidents, revealing that seven individuals are currently undergoing medical treatment due to injuries sustained from firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
One of the major accomplishment of PRO CALABARZON against illegal firecrackers is the successful operation of the Regional Intelligence Division 4A and Tanauan Municipal Police Station on November 30, 2023 at Brgy. Tambulong, Tanauan City, Batangas. The operatives confiscated a whopping P1 million worth of illegal firecrackers and arrested one suspect.
Operatives from the Regional Intelligence Division 4A led by Lt Col. Vicente Cabatingan together with Los Baños Municipal Police Station successfully seized P40,000 worth of illegal firecrackers during the entrapment operation on December 28 at Barangay Timogan, Los Baños, Laguna resulting in the arrest of alias “Jester”, 30, resident of Barangay Timogan, Los Baños, Laguna.
Further, suspect was apprehended in the act of selling illegal firecrackers to a police officer who acted as poseur buyer, and a subsequent search led to the discovery of assorted illegal firecrackers including sawa, whistle bomb, higad 3 star, 5 star, bawang, trompilyo, happy flower and different fireworks.
The arrested suspect and confiscated evidences are now under custody of Los Baños MPS and is facing charges for violating RA 7183 or an act regulating the sale, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
After the press briefing, members of the media witnessed the destruction of the confiscated firecrackers and improvised canon or “Boga” at PRO 4A Covered court.
Lucas, Regional Director of PRO CALABARZON, express his gratitude to the operatives and community in the successful operation against the sale and distribution of illegal firecrackers. He also encourages the public to avoid the use of illegal firecrackers and report any incident or information that will cease the trade of illegal firecrackers.
“I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the community members who have provided us valuable information and support not only on this particular operation but on other operations we have been conducting. To all our community, we need your cooperation to cease this illegal firecracker sale and distribution. You can help us by not patronizing illegal firecrackers and report to the nearest police station if there’s any illegal vendor or establishment selling illegal firecrackers. PRO CALABARZON remains committed to working collaboratively with our partners from different law enforcement agencies and the community to create a safer, secured and peaceful new year celebration throughout the region.”