BALER, Aurora, December 31, 2011-To ensure that policemen will not fire their guns during the celebration of the New Year, Chief Superintendent Edgardo T. Ladao, PNP-Region 3 director said in a telephone interview that over 5,000 policemen who assigned in the provinces of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales sealed their guns with masking tape and signed by their respective commanders.
“In time for the New Year celebration, firearm muzzles of policemen in Central Luzon were sealed during a ceremony held at the Philippine National Police-Region 3 headquarters in Camp Olivas,” Ladao said.
“The muzzle taping of firearms is neither a form of restriction on the use of the firearm nor a sign of distrust on the part of police commanders but, a show of commitment and resolve against indiscriminate firing,” Ladao added.
“As law enforcers, policemen of Police Regional Office 3 must serve as good examples to citizens in observing the law,” he furthered.
The central Luzon police general also warned those that will violate existing policies and regulations on the use of firearms, specifically those who will use their firearm outside the call of duty, will be charged administratively for Grave Misconduct and criminality for Discharge of Firearm.
“Policeman who would violate will be subject for removal in the service,” he said.
The ceremonial sealing of the policemen’s firearms is in accordance with the directive of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that aims to prevent illegal discharge of firearms by members of the police force during the celebration of New Year.
“We scheduled the removal of tapes on January 2, 2012,” Ladao ended. (Jason de Asis)
