The Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) has had 115 social media pages closed down for selling illegal firecrackers, as part of a broader campaign targeting these hazardous wares.
As of writing, they have had 59 Facebook pages, 54 X accounts, one website, and even an account under audio streaming platform Spotify shut down, and are also keeping tabs on 208 other platforms.
“Pagka meron tayong nakitang violation, we will request for a takedown of these pages. Mayroon naman talaga tayong nakikita, in fact ang ating mga cyber patrollers mayroong mga sinusubmit na reports dito. Alalahanin natin na ito ay paglabag sa ating batas at may kaakibat na fines and imprisonment,” ACG Director PBGEN Bernard Yang stated during a press briefing on Thursday.
(When we see violations, we request for a takedown of these pages. We do actually see violations, in fact, our cyber patrollers have reports they submit to us. We should remember that this is a violation of our laws and entails fines and imprisonment.)
Under the Republic Act (RA) 7183 or An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution, and Use of Firecrackers and Pyrotechnic Devices, offenders are fined from ₱20,000 to ₱30,000 and a prison sentence of up to a year.
Additionally, using online platforms to sell illegal firecrackers infringes on RA 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, as well.
The ACG has so far arrested 10 individuals and confiscated ₱76,400 worth of firecrackers in the eight operations conducted from December 6 to 26.
