The Philippine National Police (PNP) is scouring possible social media sites and pages for individuals behind tutorials on how to make prohibited “boga” (homemade cannon) which were now proliferating on online media platforms.
Two children firing a boga in front of their house in a posted CCTV video aired on a newscast from GMA 7.
The children were then verbally scolded by a resident and later by responding barangay officials wherein the two confessed that they learned to make boga from a TikTok video.
“We warned that all those who posted a tutorial video on how to make this prohibited device will face serious charges since it has been banned for a long time,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said.
In Rizal province, police destroyed 400 boga that were confiscated.
According to the latest report of the Department of Health (DOH), boga was the main cause of firecracker-related injuries.
Fajardo also reminded the parents and guardians to look after their children and prohibit them from playing with boga since it can cause blindness, hearing loss, burns and other injuries that may lead to amputations of some of the body parts.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) of PNP also conducted acyber patrol on the "Online Paputok & Pailaw" Facebook page where two suspects were found selling illegal firecrackers.
Seized from the suspects were 15 pieces of pla pla, 10 bundles of kabase, 27 pieces of giant atomic bomb, and 174 pieces of small atomic bomb worth a total of around P60,000.
The PNP earlier warned store owners against selling illegal firecrackers.
The Department of Health on Thursday meanwhile reported a continuous rise of firecracker related injuries. In their latest data, there are now 69 total cases logged, as 26 new cases were added.
DOH said 58 of the total cases are 19 years old below, while 11 of the cases are 20 years old and up. The data also shows that 65 of the cases are male while 4 are female.
Furthermore, 59 or 86 percent of the cases were due to “boga”.
DOH reiterated its advisory to the public to avoid using firecrackers, and report to the authorities the vendors or businesses who are selling or using illegal fireworks. DOH also warned the public on picking up discarded firecrackers, storing toxic materials such as gunpowder and small firecrackers such as watusi that can be swallowed by children.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “PNP warns against uploading ‘boga’ tutorials, selling illegal firecrackers online.”
