A Filipino boy smiles as he sells horns along Manila's bayside while preparing for the New Year on Sunday. Many Filipinos celebrate the New Year using firecrackers and other noisemakers in the belief of driving away bad luck and evil spirits. (AP photo)
MANILA -- The Philippine National Police chief warned Sunday that anyone shooting off oversized firecrackers or recklessly spraying celebratory gunfire would be arrested in an effort to reduce the country's annual New Year's Eve carnage.
Philippine officials also urged TV networks to broadcast footage of firecracker blast victims writhing in pain as a scare tactic, as 50 hospitals nationwide were put on alert.
CEBU CITY -- After a hectic week, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City personnel ended their last day of work for the year Sunday with hundreds of registrants still unable to complete their registration.
MANILA -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said offensives in the jungles of Sulu against terror groups will continue despite the recovery of the suspected remains of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani.
BAGUIO CITY -- Over P144-million worth of assorted illegal drugs were either confiscated or destroyed within the Cordillera from January 1 up to December 22, 2006.
