People in Manila who will be caught lighting firecrackers or fireworks, including inside their homes, will be arrested by authorities, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso warned on Thursday.
“We are always certain about our rules. We’re trying to be diplomatic as much as possible by asking or encouraging, but if you violate, there are a lot of policemen deployed across Manila, and there’s a lot of possibility that you will be caught because they will really arrest you,” Domagoso said at a Laging Handa briefing.
Domagoso said that as much as possible, the City of Manila should celebrate the New Year “peacefully.”
“But then again, we will. We’re going to have to do it. There’s a lot of police, don’t try anymore. There’s no prosecutor today, ‘when you’re caught by police in violation of the laws, my God, during your first week of the year, you will be in jail,” he warned.
Domagoso also said authorities have not yet found any establishment either selling unauthorized COVID-19 vaccines or conducting illegal vaccination in the capital city.
“So far we have no actual or particular establishment being monitored). But rest assured that these things are not going to be allowed in the city of Manila,” Domagoso said at the same briefing.
“ We are monitoring this every day because we will not allow this. We will not allow our people to be fooled around by these claims that their products are COVID-19 vaccines. What we want are those approved by the government,” he added.
Domagoso also appealed to citizens not to patronize unregistered vaccines.
Metro Manila mayors have previously agreed to prohibit all kinds of firecrackers this holiday season, even passing a resolution for the purpose.
The cities of Valenzuela, Marikina, Navotas, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Quezon City have already passed ordinances banning firecrackers in their localities. Caloocan City has issued a memorandum to the barangay chairmen to remind them of the ban.
However, some local government units said they will instead regulate it, including Mandaluyong City.