Report: Metro Manila cops destroy seized firecrackers

In the middle of an afternoon drizzle on Thursday, Metro Manila police destroyed the illegal firecrackers they seized from vendors in raids in the past weeks. Radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag Jr. said the destruction of the firecrackers was held at the grandstand area of the police's Camp Karingal in Quezon City. The destroyed firecrackers included piccolo, sawa, pla-pla, "Goodbye Philippines" and "Goodbye Philippines Junior," and bawang. While bomb experts kept watch, police officials removed the fuses from some of the firecrackers, which they placed in a small drum and remotely detonated. The force of the explosion destroyed the drum, according to the report. The other firecrackers to be destroyed were submerged in water. Those present at the destruction of the illegal firecrackers were Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome and National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag. The media representatives covering the event were kept at a safe distance. A list released by the Fire and Explosives Office of the Philippine National Police this month showed that the banned fireworks include: