Zero indiscriminate firing, lower firecracker injuries in NegOcc

FILE: Several police stations confiscated and destroyed illegal firecrackers hours before the New Year.
(Photo by André Hofmeister/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

BACOLOD CITY— Not a single incident of indiscriminate firing was recorded in Negros Occidental during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the police said on Tuesday.

“I am glad that our intensified campaign on ‘Ligtas Paskuhan’ and ‘Iwas Paputok’ has had a peaceful outcome,” Provincial Police director, Senior Supt. Rodolfo Castil Jr., said in a statement.

Negros Occidental Police records showed that as of Jan. 1, only 13 were injured by firecrackers between Christmas and New Year, compared to five incidents of indiscriminate firing and 39 firecracker-related injuries in the previous year.

On New Year’s Eve, police stations in Negros Occidental intensified the “Ligtas Paskuhan” and “Iwas Paputok” campaigns by inspecting firecracker vendors and distributing flyers with reminders on how to welcome 2018 using safe and alternative merry-making devices and avoiding indiscriminate firing.

Several police stations confiscated and destroyed illegal firecrackers hours before the New Year.

Castil lauded Negros Occidental Police personnel for “a job well done” and for heeding the directives of Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa on indiscriminate firing.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Negrenses, other government agencies, and non-governmental organizations for providing support to the police.