Tuesday, October 10, 2007 Cops raid warehouses storing firecrackers
THE Regional Intelligence Division (RID) raided two warehouses containing imported firecrackers from China. The stocks were reportedly in preparation for the coming holidays.
Supt. Julius Cesar Gornez, deputy chief of the RID 7, said the two warehouses were leased to spouses Jenny and Mariano So.
With a search warrant issued by Judge Ramon Codilla, the RID team with representatives from the Firearms Explosives Security Agencies and Guards Supervision Section (Fesagss) and went to the first warehouse on 12th Ave. in Barangay Tejero, Cebu City at 1:50 p.m. Monday.
Gornez said they had to force it open with a bolt cutter.
Among piles of plastic wares, police found several boxes of assorted firecrackers and pyrotechnics. The boxes had Chinese markings and labels stating the goods were made in China.
They later proceeded to a warehouse beside Juasing Hardware on S. Osmeña Ave. The warehouse is leased by the same couple. It contained the same boxes.
Gornez said it was possible the fireworks were the first stocks in preparation for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Republic Act 7183 prohibits the possession, sale and distribution of fireworks that are not in the list of approved types. Section 6 also prohibits the importation of finished firecrackers and fireworks.
Gornez also said that the warehouse where the fireworks were being stored violated the law because these should not be placed on concrete floors.
Mariano was arrested while his wife Jenny is at large.
The Provincial Intelligence Branch also stepped up its anti-gambling campaign, arresting a man who was caught playing with a video carrera machine in Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City Monday afternoon. (MEA)
