Philippine Police Crack Down on Illegal Firecrackers, Arrest Three Online Sellers

In a concerted effort to curb the sale of illegal fireworks during the holiday season, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) has apprehended three individuals involved in the online sale of banned firecrackers. The arrests were made following operations in Metro Manila and Olongapo City, where a total of 541 pieces of illegal firecrackers were seized, valued at approximately PHP14,370. The operations targeted locations in Tondo, Manila; East Bajac-Bajac, Olongapo City; and Malabon City, uncovering a variety of banned items including ‘Five Star’, ‘Kwitis’, ‘Pastillas’, ‘Kingkong’, ‘Whistle Bomb’, ‘Kabase’, ‘Tuna’, ‘Judas Belt’, ‘Goodbye Philippines’, and ‘Fountain’. The PNP-ACG’s actions align with a broader initiative by the PNP Civil Security Group to crack down on the online sale of illegal fireworks. In a related development, the PNP-ACG has partnered with TikTok to enhance their fight against cybercrime. This collaboration aims to streamline investigations and provide training for PNP-ACG personnel on the platform’s operations. Discussions between PNP-ACG and TikTok representatives focused on tackling scams and online exploitation, particularly through TikTok’s shopping feature. This partnership is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of cybercrime investigations and contribute to a safer online environment.