Woman makes fireworks at home, arrested

CEBU, Philippines – A 45-year-old woman allegedly making illegal fireworks was arrested in her residence in Sitio Lamoy-Kinalumsan, Barangay Gun-ob Thursday afternoon.

Angeles Curacha was arrested around 4:30 p.m. after police personnel from Gun-ob Police Station 3 caught her in the act of creating fireworks together with her workers.

Police Senior Inspector Wilbert Parilla, chief of Gun-ob Police Station, said Gun-ob Barangay Captain Jose Dungog sent a letter of request to their office after residents complained of Curacha’s fireworks-making business in the area.

Parilla clarified that Curacha has license to manufacture fireworks in Barangay Babag but she repeortedly was making them inside her house, which is prohibited.

“Naa na siya’y license to manufacture pero ang area naa sa Babag unya kato iyahang gi-manufacturan gahapon (Thursday)  didto sa iyahang balay sa Gun-ob,” Parilla said.

Police seized 96 pieces of small fountains, another 83 small unlabeled pieces of the same fireworks, including 148 hotdog-shaped fireworks –- all placed in three sacks, and four bundles of bamboo sticks.

Though Curacha has complete permits in handling and selling fireworks, Parilla said she still violated the law because venturing into this kind of business requires an isolated place like the area in Barangay Babag.

Curacha reportedly claimed she has unfinished fireworks and eventually decided to do them in her home in Barangay Gun-ob.

“Iyahang claim naa sila’y mga unfinished nga mga pabuto, gitiwas niya sa ilahang balay. Unya kay nangreklmao man ang mga silingan, gidala man sa barangay nya ang barangay maoy nag-refer didto. Among gi-inspection ang area nya naa gyud nagbuhat og mga pabuto,” Parilla said.

Curacha is detained at Gun-ob Police Station and will face charges for violating Republic Act 7183 or “the law on pyrotechnic devices, persons caught manufacturing, selling, distributing and purchasing”.

Those found violating the law will be sentenced to imprisonsnment of six months to one year while its penalty will be P20,000 to P 30,000.

Meanwhile, police said there is a possibility Curacha’s permit might be cancelled but as of now, the Lapu-Lapu City government will first investigate the incident.

Yesterday morning, Parilla said they have inspected around 100 stalls starting from the stretch of Barangay Canjulao going to Barangay Babag.

“Naay mga minor ra nga violation, wala tong tubig, wala tong balas. Katung mga pabuto gikan sa laing lugar katung gikan sa Bulacan wala sila’y retailer’s permit. Ang among gi-require nila nga, the next time nga mag-inspection mi, kinahanglan nga naa na sila’y retailer’s permit,” he said. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)