The Philippine National Police on Thursday reported that its operatives arrested five online firecracker sellers since 19 December in separate entrapment operations.

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Cyber Response Unit chief Col. Jay Guillermo also appealed to the public to refrain buying firecrackers sold online.

The entrapment operations stemmed from the directive of the PNP leadership to intensify the operation against the illegal manufacture and sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials.

"My personal take on this is that these can be used by criminals. They can buy firecrackers with a huge amount of gunpowder and if you combine them all, they can turn into explosives. There is a need to regulate the sale of these firecrackers so that we can monitor who buys them," Guillermo added.

He said ACG operatives were able to contact online sellers for the purchase of firecrackers during the conduct of regular cyber patrol.

Guillermo identified the suspects as Jaymar Sandoval and Eugene Macasaet, who were arrested in an entrapment operation at Barangay San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan on Thursday morning.

Seized during the operation were two bundles of kwitis, one sawa with 1800 rounds, one box of piccolo and three bundles of five colors amounting to a total of P5,300.

Last Wednesday, a certain Victoria So, a female seller met with an ACG undercover agent which resulted in her arrest in her house in Tondo, Manila.

Seized during the operation were a cellular phone, the marked money and 10 reams of prohibited firecrackers.