MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday morning intercepted P1-million worth of illegally-shipped firecrackers at the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation.

Commander Juan Manuel Ramos Jr., PCG Bacolod head, said the firecrackers were concealed in 23 boxes, with different kind of markings, and was consigned to a certain Alice Lasdoce of a drugstore company in Iloilo City.

Ramos said the firecrackers were shipped to the Bacolod port from Iloilo City through the Ocean Jet fast craft.

He said PCG inspectors first though the boxes contained medicines because, but discovered that the boxes actually contain firecrackers with the help of K9 units.

Meanwhile, a drugstore branch manager in Bacolod City, who was summoned by the PCG, presented documents for the firecrackers. The manager, however, failed to present legal documents that would prove the firecrackers can be transported.

Ramos said the firecrackers were eventually seized because of the absence of the transport permit.

The PCG has turned over the seized firecrackers to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office's explosives and ordnance unit.