By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) took down 115 online platforms selling illegal firecrackers.
The latest data from the ACG showed these include 59 Facebook pages, 54 X (formerly Twitter) accounts, one website and one account in audio streaming app Spotify.
About 208 other online platforms are under monitoring.
Meanwhile, acting ACG chief Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said they are intensifying cyber patrol activities in going after those engaged in the illegal activity.
“Pagka meron tayong nakitang (If we see any) violation, we will request for a takedown of these pages. Meron naman talaga tayong nakikita, in fact ang ating mga cyber patrollers meron mga sinusubmit na reports dito. Alalahanin natin na ito ay paglabag sa ating batas at my kaakibat na (We really see something and in fact, our cyber patrollers are submitting reports. Let us remember that this activity violates the law and has corresponding) fines and imprisonment,” Yang said in a press briefing Thursday.
Republic Act (RA) 7183 or An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution, and Use of Firecrackers and Pyrotechnic Devices penalizes the sale of illegal firecrackers with fines ranging from PHP20,000 to PHP30,000 and imprisonment of up to one year.
Meanwhile, the use of online platforms in this illegal activity is a violation of RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
From Dec. 6 to 26, the ACG has carried out eight operations against the online sale of banned firecrackers which resulted in the arrest of 10 persons and the seizure of firecrackers worth PHP76,400. (PNA)
