MANILA — Police seized 96,721 illegal firecracker items and arrested 26 individuals for violations related to the use of pyrotechnics during the New Year festivities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday, Jan. 1.

In a statement issued Jan. 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, covering the peak of the New Year celebrations.

The PNP said more than 67,000 personnel were deployed nationwide, including police officers, “augmentation forces,” and “advocacy group members,” to secure public areas such as places of worship, transport terminals, tourist destinations, and more than 600 local government-designated firecracker-free zones.

Despite the enforcement efforts, authorities recorded 843 firecracker-related incidents during the period, which resulted in 183 people injured. No fatalities were reported.

The PNP also recorded three fire incidents linked to pyrotechnics, leaving five people injured, and two road crash incidents that injured four individuals. All incidents were immediately responded to by police and emergency units.

Two cases of indiscriminate firearm discharge were also reported, resulting in one person being injured. Authorities confiscated two firearms and arrested one individual in connection with the incidents.

Separately, police seized 61 loose firearms and arrested 132 individuals for violations involving illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and outstanding warrants during sustained operations conducted alongside the holiday deployments.

PNP Acting Chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the volume of seizures reflected the impact of early enforcement efforts, while noting that incidents still occurred despite preventive measures.