Exclusive - WATCH HERE: PNP Chief 'Bato' Frightened By 'Goodbye De Lima' Firecrackers!

The Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted an inspection of the pyrotechnics center in Bocaue, Bulacan on Thursday where they encountered an illegal firecracker dubbed "Goodbye De Lima".

ABS-CBN News captured footage of Chief ‘Bato’ holding the triangle-shaped firecracker to present to members of the media. At first, he even got the chance to joke about its name. However, during the latter part of the video, the PNP chief lost his cool when 'Goodbye De Lima' gushed some gray particles that he initially mistook for smoke, which sent him and his men scrambling for safety.

Watch the footage below:

Bato admitted that the firecracker sent him into panic so he dropped it and ran. An officer later disposed of it with water.

"Nahulog lang, sir, 'yung powder. Nag-leak lang yung powder, sir." the officer explained.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa also grinned at the media members, saying that it's not fair to tease him as the firecracker really scared all of them for a second.

"Iyung firecracker na iyun, nakakatakot e. Umusok bigla, 'di ba? Napakalas ng power nung rebintador na iyun. Ewan ko kung may bad omen iyun o what. Ang importante, hindi tayo nasabugan," he said. 

"Bahala na kung kantyawan niyo ako na tumakbo ako, okay lang sa akin iyun. Kayo nga, tumakbo din kayo. Iniwan n'yo kami e, patas lang tayo," he added. 

'Goodbye De Lima' is only one of the many illegal firecrackers caught in the firecracker capital of the Philippines. Police seized and destroyed some of the unsafe firecrackers, while the rest were sent to local authorities.

Meanwhile, Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva gave the PNP a tour in the legitimate pyrotechnics stores located along Halili Avenue in Barangay Turo.  

"Sana po ang puntahan po natin ay yung mga legitimate na mga tindahan. Sila po yung may mga sariling pwesto at makikita naman po yung kanilang business permit ... Para rin po maturuan tayo sa proper handling ng mga paputok na ito," Villanueva said.

The head of the PNP Firearms and Explosive Office Chief Superintendent Cesar Binag reminded the vendors of pyrotechnics to be cautious about the characteristics of unsafe contraband firecrackers. 

"Dapat hindi sya overweight, hindi sya oversized, tapos hindi masyadong mabilis yung fuse, tapos hindi din mabagal," Binag said.

The PNP hopes that this New Year will bring less fireworks-related casualties.

Source: TNP , ABS-CBN