With New Year preparations already ramping up in Bulacan, police have stepped up operations to prevent dangerous and unregulated fireworks from entering the market — resulting in the arrest of three individuals in separate raids on Monday, October 27.
Authorities from the Bulacan Police Provincial Office intercepted illicit manufacturing activities in the towns of Santa Maria and Bocaue, following intelligence reports on underground production despite strict government oversight.
In Brgy. Pulong Buhangin, Santa Maria, police apprehended two women and seized unfinished fireworks along with tools used in crafting them. Meanwhile, in Sitio Bigunan, Brgy. Biñang 1st in Bocaue — the country’s so-called “Fireworks Capital” — a 22-year-old male, identified only as alias “Jon Jon,” was arrested with 23 kilograms of potassium chlorate, parts of baby rockets, and finished items ready for distribution.
The operations form part of a broader safety campaign to avert explosions and fire-related injuries during the holiday rush. Authorities reiterated firm enforcement of Republic Act 7183 or the Firecracker Law, urging manufacturers and sellers to secure proper permits and follow regulated standards.
This heightened vigilance follows a fatal blast in an illegal factory in Norzagaray on October 22, where two individuals lost their lives — a stark reminder of the risks tied to unlawful production of fireworks.
