Nine people have been arrested so far for illegal discharge of firearms in the days leading up to New Year's Day, the Philippine National Police said Sunday.
In a statement, the PNP said that the nine arrested included five civilians, two police personnel, one security guard, and a government official.
Meanwhile, 14 have have been arrested for selling illegal firecrackers and a total of P14,230 worth if illegal fireworks have been confiscated.
Moreover, the PNP said that from December 21 to 29, a total of 72 firecrackers-related injuries were recorded—or 40 percent lower than the number of cases in the same period last year; and 59 percent lower than the figures in same time reference in the years 2012 through 2016.
No cases of firecracker ingestion and stray bullet injuries have so far been recorded, it added.
The PNP attributed the decrease in the number of firecracker-related incidents to the PNP's early campaign, operations, and surprise inspections on various fireworks-selling establishments.
Likewise, the PNP urged the public to post or upload on social media videos and photos of people using firearms during the New Year revelry, and report them to the police for immediate action and investigation.
PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa had appealed to police personnel to ensure a safe new year revelry. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News