Cops, brgy. officials to accost, apprehend firecracker ban violators in NCR —MMC chair

Policemen and barangay officials have been ordered to apprehend violators of the firecracker ban in the National Capital Region (NCR), Metro Manila Council chair and Parañaque City mayor Edwin Olivarez said Thursday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Olivarez said that the council issued Resolution No.20-17 Series of 2020, which prohibits the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics devices for welcoming 2021.

“Binigyan na po natin ng instruction ang ating kapulisan pati na rin po ang ating task force to make sure na wala pong gagamit ng paputok this New Year,” Olivarez said.

“Binigyan na rin po natin ng instruction ang mga barangay officials to monitor, to apprehend, kasama po ang ating kapulisan para i-implement po itong firecracker ban,” he added.

The penalty for the violation will depend on the ordinances of the respective local government unit, Olivarez said.

In a separate interview on Balitanghali, Philippine National Police spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said that only LGUs in Caloocan and Parañaque City ordered immediate arrest of the violators.

As of Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported three cases of firecrackers-related injuries in NCR, while a total of 14 cases were recorded nationwide. --KBK, GMA News