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A police officer checks the confiscated firecrackers in Divisoria, Manila.
The STAR / KJ Rosales, File
MANILA, Philippines — Police seized 96,721 illegal firecracker items and arrested 26 people during the New Year festivities for violating rules related to the use of pyrotechnics, the Philippine National Police said Thursday, January 1.
In a statement issued January 1, the PNP said the seizures were made during security operations conducted from 5 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2025 to 11 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, a period that covered the height of the New Year celebrations.
The PNP said it deployed over 67,000 personnel nationwide, including police officers, "augmentation forces," and "advocacy group members," to secure public areas, including places of worship, transport hubs, tourist destinations, and over 600 local government-designated firecracker-free zones.
Despite enforcement efforts, authorities recorded 843 firecracker-related incidents, which resulted in 183 people injured.
The PNP said no fatalities were reported during the coverage period.
Firecracker-related injuries, other incidents
The PNP also reported three fire incidents linked to pyrotechnics, leaving five people injured, and two road crash incidents that injured four individuals. Police said all incidents were responded to by law enforcement and emergency units.
Two cases of indiscriminate firearm discharge were recorded during the period, resulting in one person being injured. Authorities confiscated two firearms and arrested one individual in connection to the incidents.
Separately, the PNP said it seized 61 loose firearms and arrested 132 individuals for violations involving illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and outstanding warrants during sustained police operations conducted alongside its holiday deployments.
PNP Acting Chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the scale of seizures showed the impact of early enforcement, though he acknowledged that incidents still occurred despite preventive measures.
— Cristina Chi
