NO FIRECRACKER-RELATED deaths or injuries have been reported in Eastern Visayas during the New Year’s Eve celebration.

Lieutenant Colonel Ma. Bella Rentuaya, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Eastern Visayas, said the region has attained the zero firecracker-related casualties due to the support of the public and the police force.

As of 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 1, the region also recorded zero casualty on indiscriminate firing or stray bullets.

The PRO-Eastern Visayas, however, said they have arrested at least five persons for illegal possession, use, and sale of firecrackers.

According to Rentuaya, they have deployed a total of 1,406 police officers on places of convergence, transportation terminals, and for route security in observance of the Yuletide season.

Earlier, PRO-Eastern Visayas Director Ferdinand Divina warned the public on the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. (SunStar Philippines)