Davao man spends New Year behind bars after caught lighting a fountain-type firework
- A 50-year-old man from Barangay Daliao was arrested by Toril Police after being spotted lighting a fountain-type firework during New Year celebrations
- Aside from the fountain, authorities confiscated other illegal pyrotechnics from the suspect, including "kwitis" and several "baby rockets"
- The violator faces jail time ranging from 20 to 30 days and a fine, in accordance with Davao City’s strict ordinance which has been enforced since 2002
- The suspect reportedly offered no resistance and spent the first day of 2026 in detention, admitting to his violation of the city-wide ban
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For over two decades, the City of Davao has been famous for its strict "Zero Firecracker" policy, a rule that has turned New Year's Eve celebrations here into a safer, albeit quieter, affair compared to the rest of the archipelago.
Source: UGC
However, old habits die hard for some, and for one 50-year-old resident of Barangay Daliao, the urge to see a spark of light cost him his freedom on the very first day of 2026.
While most Davaoeños welcomed the New Year with horns, music, and torotots, police officers from the Toril Police Station were on high alert.
Their vigilance led them to a residence where a man was caught in the act of lighting a fountain-type firework right in front of his home.
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According to the police report, the arrest was straightforward but somber. "After umiikot he was caught in the act na nagsisindi ng fireworks sa harap ng kanilang bahay," explained Atty. Sheryl Bautista, the Station Chief of the Toril Police.
It wasn't just a single fountain; a further search of his possession revealed a stash of prohibited pyrotechnics, including a "kwitis" (skyrocket) and three "baby rockets," indicating a clear intent to defy the city's long-standing ordinance.
The aftermath of the arrest serves as a sobering reminder of the law's reach. Instead of celebrating the media noche with his family, the man ushered in January 1st inside a cold detention cell.
To his credit, authorities noted that the suspect offered no resistance. He accepted his mistake with resignation, acknowledging that he had gambled with the law and lost.
He is reportedly ready to face the consequences of his actions.
Davao City’s Firecracker Ban Ordinance has been in full effect since 2002, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession, or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices. The penalties are not to be taken lightly.
First-time offenders face a fine of P1,000 and imprisonment of 20 to 30 days. A second offense raises the stakes to a P3,000 fine and three months in jail, while a third offense commands a P5,000 fine and up to six months of imprisonment.
Atty. Bautista confirmed that the case against the violator is being prepared and will be formally filed as soon as the City Prosecutor’s Office resumes operations on Saturday.
In a related development, the Davao City Police are also investigating a separate report of an unauthorized fireworks display elsewhere in the city, proving that the "Zero Tolerance" policy remains as rigid as ever.
For the man in Toril, the fleeting beauty of a fountain firework has resulted in a permanent criminal record and a New Year’s Day he will likely never forget.
In other news, the holiday season in Tagaytay was marred by the discovery of 26-year-old John Lester Amin’s remains on December 23, found in a secluded area, restrained and silenced with industrial tape. Amin had reportedly departed from his Quezon City residence on December 22 to finalize a vehicle transaction; investigators suspect his lack of resistance suggests he was lured into the vehicle by someone he trusted. In a disturbing development for the family, law enforcement has named one of the victim's own relatives as a key person of interest among the four individuals currently being tracked. Police have compiled various security camera recordings from the capital region to the province to map out the crime's timeline, pending a formal deposition from the victim's partner to initiate court proceedings.
Still in other news, the town of Dueñas, Iloilo, is in a state of mourning following the tragic death of Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan, which occurred as the result of a domestic accident on December 30. Mayor Robert Martin Pama shared the somber announcement via social media, leading a wave of public tributes for the local leader whose life was cut short just before the new year. Local police reports indicate the fatal discharge took place while the Vice Mayor was performing a routine check on her firearm at home, shortly before she was due to attend a community charity event. While preliminary findings suggest the shooting was entirely unintentional, provincial authorities are performing a standard, thorough review to ensure all aspects of the incident are officially documented.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
