Monday, December 17, 2007 Muzzles of cops' guns to be taped today
BEFORE police officers enjoy the Christmas break, they have to make sure their firearms are taped as tamper-proof against illegal firing during holiday festivities.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) has ordered a simultaneous taping of gun muzzles in today’s flag raising ceremony.
In a memorandum sent out last Friday, the CPPO Operations Branch ordered all station police chiefs to personally supervise the activity.
The police chiefs were told to use masking tapes on the nozzle of each firearm issued to each of their men.
The masking tape will bear the signature of the concerned police chief so that the officer cannot easily replace the tape if he ends up firing his gun.
This is a yearly Philippine National Police tradition to ensure that indiscriminate firing does not happen on the eve of Christmas and the New Year.
Firing
There have been cases where firearms, instead of firecrackers, were used to make noise to celebrate the two holidays. And stray bullets as a result of indiscriminate firing already killed or maimed several victims.
The taping of guns is part of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7’s Iwas Paputok joint project with the Department of Health.
Those caught and proven guilty for reckless gun firing face dismissal from service.
The tapes, though, should not prevent a policeman from firing his gun in the line of duty. (MEA)
