Camp Kangleon, Palo, Leyte, Jan 3, 2017 – PCSUPT ELMER C BELTEJAR, the Regional Director of Police Regional Office 8 congratulates all PNP personnel in Eastern Visayas for the effective information dissemination on the ill effects of firecrackers which resulted in the decrease of the number of firecracker victims this 2017.
As of 6:00 AM January 3, 2017, Police Regional Office 8 recorded a total of eighteen (18) Law Enforcement operations conducted in line with the implementation of RA 7183 (regulation on use of firecrackers/pyrotechnics) One (1) on Joint inspections/operations with concerned GAs and NGAs. Four (4) persons were arrested (1-Leyte, 3-Ormoc) for illegal possession/sale of firecrackers amounting to 59, 036 pesos; Of the twenty six (26) incidents recorded, twenty six (26) were injured (2-Leyte, 1-Eastern Samar, 22-Northern Samar, 1-Tacloban).
Compared to last year’s data which is 39, there is a 33% decrease on injuries due firecracker incidents.
Likewise, the suspects on indiscriminate firing are Antonio A. Linga of Brgy. Uguis, Mahaplag, Leyte who was immediately arrested and Wilbor Fua y Gamay, Sheriff IV of RTC Branch 19 Catarman Northern Samar and a resident of Brgy. Buenavista, Rosario, Northern Samar who fled after police arrived at the scene. However, notably there was no any victim of stray bullets reported from said indiscriminate firing.
PCSUPT BELTEJAR said that incidents on firecrackers and indiscriminate firing are obviously much lower compared to last year. According to him, this is because of the maximum deployment of PNP personnel during the New Year revelry and community’s support and cooperation provided to the police.
