Police Regional Office 9 announced that the New Year Celebration of 2020 in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula was generally peaceful as it recorded zero cases for stray bullet, indiscriminate firing and firecracker-related incidents during the New Year celebration in the region.
P/Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Genaro E. Ylagan, PRO9 Regional Director, in a press statement attributed the achievement to the intensified implementation of security and public safety campaign launched by the police all over the region through its Ligtas Paskuhan 2020, a comprehensive plan designed to minimize crimes and incidents during the Yuletide season.
“The New Year’s Eve celebration was resoundingly safer compared to last year since PRO13 Regional Operations Division has recorded only one firecracker-related incident.” RD CARAMAT JR said.
Based on the consolidated report “Ligtas Paskuhan 2020” of PRO9 operation center as January 1, 2021, it recorded negative incident of stray bullet, indiscriminate firing, and fire or burning incident due to firecrackers including reported major injuries in relation to use of firecrackers.
During the event, Surigao City police arrested Jolan R. Arcana, 22 years old when he did not heed the warning of the person in authority for having caught in the act lighting a firecracker at Rizal Street, Barangay Washington, Surigao City. Arcana will be charged for Resistance and Disobedience to a person in authority in relation of Violation EO No. 73, RA No. 11332 and Alarms and Scandal and Unjust Vexation.
P/Brig Gen Ylagan attributed such achievement to the step up implementation of RA 7183 known as “An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices”, wherein a total of 6 Illegal Possession/use/sale of firecrackers incidents were registered in Zamboanga City and Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay with more than 1,986 pieces and packs of firecrackers such as five star, Judas belts, rockets (kwitis), piccolo, sticks of seven colors and among others amounting to ₱ 522,270 were confiscated by the police.
He also announced that not one among the 8,000 policemen under the Police Regional Office 9 were found to have fired his service firearms during the New Year’s revelry.
Earlier, the PNP hierarchy implemented the no taping of gun muzzles of every PNP personnel nationwide.
Meanwhile, P/Brig Gen Ronaldo Genaro E Ylagan acknowledged the support and cooperation of general public throughout the region in the realization of peaceful and injury free New Year celebration.
“I would like to thank all our police force together with partner agencies and the community for your sacrifices in making our region safe and peaceful,” said RD CARAMAT JR. (PRO9-PIO)
(Source: Caraga Pulis Pio Facebook page)