No New Year 'bang' for soldiers in camps

There won’t be any “super lolo” at military camps this New Year’s Eve.

Powerful firecrackers are banned at military camps nationwide to prevent injuries.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials also warned soldiers that they could be discharged from the service if they fire their guns during the New Year revelry.

Brig. Gen. Ireneo Espino, chief of the AFP Headquarters Support Command and camp commander of the AFP general headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo, said he had given instructions to camp occupants not to use loud and banned firecrackers such as “super lolo” and similar pyrotechnics to avoid accidents and injuries.

“Even unexploded firecrackers pose potential hazards so we are banning them inside the camp,” he said.

Espino said military police personnel would also go on patrol around Camp Aguinaldo to warn occupants against the use of these firecrackers.

In the past, several people were killed due to stray bullets during the New Year revelry.

Espino said they would inspect and tape the muzzles of soldiers’ firearms a few days before the New Year celebration to ensure that these would not be used during the celebrations.

Firearms issued to soldiers would again be inspected after the celebration to ensure that these were not fired.

Last year, soldiers who wanted to fire their guns during the New Year were told to go to military firing ranges inside camps.

Maj. Gerry Zamudio, air force spokesman, said they have also prohibited the use of firecrackers during the New Year celebration in all their camps nationwide. 

“Those who violate this directive would face administrative sanctions because that would mean disobedience to a specific order issued by the air force commanding general,” he said.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, army spokesman, said loud firecrackers are traditionally prohibited inside their camps and this would be implemented again this year.