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[av_heading heading=’New Year celeb in NegOcc ‘generally peaceful’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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BACOLOD City – Welcoming the New Year in the province was generally peaceful, according to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo).
Yesterday, Nocppo reported in a statement that there were lesser incidents of firecracker-related injuries in Negros Occidental.
From 2016-2017 holiday period’s 38 incidents, the number trickled down to only 13 cases in 2017-2018, Nocppo reported.
Nocppo also recorded zero incidents of indiscriminate firing this holiday season. In 2016-2017 holiday period, there were five cases.
Just like last year, Nocppo also recorded zero incidents involving stray bullets in the province.
No acts of terrorism were recorded, it added.
“Umuulan, medyo tinatamad lumabas at magpaputok ang mga tao sa mga designated firecracker zones. Kung sa bahay naman nila, baka i-report sila at mahuli,” said Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., Nocppo director.
But Castil primarily attributed the peaceful holiday season to the measures they and other government agencies conducted under the campaigns Ligtas Paskuhan 2017 and Iwas Paputok 2017.
“I am glad that our intensified campaign had a peaceful outcome,” said Castil.
The agencies have been strict in enforcing President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 28 and the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7183, which both regulate the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices across the country.
Castil said these two laws were a “big factor” in the peaceful outcome of the holiday season, especially in welcoming the New Year.
Nocppo has been consistent in reminding Negrenses the dangers of using firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices through information dissemination measures like the distribution of flyers and posting of infographic materials in strategic areas in Negros Occidental.
Police officers from various police stations were also patrolling their respective areas to monitor the sale of illegal firecrackers.
The police also checked if the vendors were complying with the safety guidelines stated by the law.
The use of firearms was also monitored by the police.
Earlier, the Police Regional Office 6 sent a directive to all police stations that there will be a “one-strike policy” on incidents involving stray bullets in Western Visayas.
In response, the police stations warned civilians and uniformed personnel of the charges they may face when caught indiscriminately firing their firearms.
Castil thanked the public for cooperating with the law enforcers in keeping the holiday season peaceful./PN
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