THERE were no firecracker-related injuries in Cagayan de Oro City nor cases of indiscriminate firing during Christmas Eve, a city police official said Tuesday, December 26.
Chief Inspector Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said this year’s Christmas holiday was generally peaceful as no one was reported injured by firecrackers or stray bullets.
But Hortillosa said there were only petty crimes reported such as vehicular and stabbing incidents.
Authorities said the peaceful celebrations may be attributed to the effective information dissemination and awareness campaign against firecrackers.
Hortillosa said the recent flooding might also be one of the factors.
Cocpo is again calling on Kagay-anons not to buy illegal firecrackers for the New Year celebration.
Hortillosa said the police are also aiming for zero casualty in this holiday break.
Police is urging the public to use alternative means to greet New Year other than the firecrackers such as torotot (horn), sound system, car horns, and other stuff that produces loud sounds.
City police director Senior Superintendent Robert Roy Bahian is asking the same cooperation from the public while the police force is doing its very best to protect the people.
"Atong gihangyo ang katawhan nga kung mahimo dili na lang magpabuto or kung dili malikaya didto lang magpabuto sa designated area ug dili pud magpalit sa illegal nga pabuto aron magmalinawon ang atong pagsugat sa new year," Bahian said.