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Wednesday, January 03, 2007
100 rounded up due to pyro ban violation
By Jeffrey M. Tupas
Correspondent
DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte turned surprisingly soft on those who have violated the pyrotechnics ban during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The mayor, who is not known for his compassion for lawbreakers, said he would forgive those who were arrested.
Sun.Star Network Online's Christmas Special
Some 100 violators of the firecracker ban, 25 of them minors, were caught using and selling firecrackers and other pyrotechnics materials in Davao City.
Of the total number, 35 were not spared from legal actions.
The violators Tuesday received a lecture from Duterte who later said he will not pursue filing cases against them.
"I have already told you that the police will not hesitate from arresting you if you will be caught selling or lighting up firecrackers. But you are hardheaded. Why can't you understand that these materials are against the law of Davao?" he said.
"But I will forgive you now. You will not be sued because I pity you. We will all forget about this but I have to remind you that the things that we prohibited in Davao should be observed," the mayor added.
Maranao vendors from Marawi City particularly got a mouthful from the mayor who said that Davao is not a good place for business for those who have difficulty following city ordinances.
"What did you come here for? Prison? You better go back to Marawi and never come back here and violate our laws," Duterte said.
Despite the arrests, City Police Director Catalino Cuy said the Christmas and New Year celebrations were all relatively peaceful.
"We have been very strict with implementing the firecracker ban and we have made several apprehensions. We have recorded no death and injuries related to this," Cuy said.
Cuy also denied reports that a police officer from Davao was caught indiscriminately firing his gun during the celebrations. Duterte said the report was unfair.
A week before the New Year celebration, police authorities seized a container van full of firecrackers, which amounted to around P300,000. A case was immediately filed against the owner identified as Peter Go Co, a resident of Barrio Obrero.
Sta. Ana Police Chief Leonardo Felonia said the owner doesn't have permit and other legal documents to back the explosives.
The owner, he said, only showed an expired license to deal firecrackers and pyrotechnics materials issued by Camp Crame's Firearms and Explosives Division. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (January 3, 2007 issue)
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