Zamboanga City gov't bans firecrackers

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar on Tuesday issued an order imposing a ban on firecrackers as the city remaind in shock and trauma from the Moro National Liberation Front's (MNLF) siege last September.

The ban includes the manufacturing, sale, distribution and lighting of firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

Salazar, meanwhile, clarified in her order that licensed firecracker dealers in the city may be permitted as long as they will distribute their products outside the city.

The mayor's order came after the city council strongly recommended the suspension of the sale, distribution and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics within the city.

Councilor Benjamin BG Guingona III, who filed the resolution, said that the use of firecrackers or pyrotechnics may cause public anxiety because of the recent crisis.

The city has not lifted the citywide curfew from midnight to 4 a.m. due to the prevailing security situation.

Fr. Karel San Juan, newly-installed president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU), said they also discourage the use of fireworks in the forthcoming alumni homecoming and the torch parade in the Ateneo fiesta, dubbed as “PeaceTa.”

San Juan said their decision in doing away with the use of fireworks and torch parade is in line with the local government's effort to maintain peace and order in the city.

More than 200 MNLF members loyal to the group's founding chairman, Nur Misuari, occupied at least five villages in the city.

The city was rendered isolated as it was turned into a war zone for more than 20 days.

Misuari and his most loyal captain, Habier Malik, have been charged by the government for the siege, which left scores of people dead and wounded. Thousands of residents were also displaced due to the conflict.