Tuesday, December 18, 2007 No cop exempted from rule
NO police officer is exempted from having the muzzle of his or her issued firearm taped before the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The tape will indicate whether the gun has been fired. It is part of the police’s campaign against indiscriminate firing during the coming holidays.
Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Carmelo Valmoria said he even had the chief of the Provincial Security and Service Group tape the muzzle of his firearm and sign it.
The simultaneous taping of gun muzzles was held during the flag raising ceremony yesterday.
Aside from the CPPO, Valmoria ordered all units under his jurisdiction to also tape the muzzles of their guns.
He assured police officers they will still be able to use their guns when the need arises.
“This does not prevent the police from using the firearm. If they really need to use it, they can do so. Anyway, mubuto ra man gihapon na maski naa’y (it will still fire even with the) tape,” he said.
Aside from taping the muzzles, Valmoria said they also registered the serial numbers of the weapons.
“This also does not mean that the police are the ones who are firing indiscriminately. This is to show the public that we are serious,” he told reporters. He said there were also other licensed gun holders and even owners of loose firearms.
At the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), top officials led yesterday’s ceremonial taping of the muzzles of their guns.
CCPO administrative chief Lourdes Ingente signed the masking tapes on the firearms. All the 11 police stations and the special units were also required to do the same.
When asked why the taping of gun muzzles was done early, CCPO deputy director for operations Pablo Labra II said “the earlier, the better.”
The taping, Labra clarified, does not mean that police can no longer fire their guns. Labra said a policeman may fire his gun if he needs to during legitimate operation.
But those who are found to have fired their firearms indiscriminately will be dealt with administratively, Labra said.
Valmoria, meanwhile, is urging the public to immediately inform their local police if they know of anyone who fired a gun in their area.
He said that if stray bullets end up in their homes, they should keep these and surrender these to their local police station. Valmoria said that if the bullet was fired from a licensed firearm, they will be able to trace the owner.
As last minute Christmas shoppers flood the shopping centers, Valmoria is also asking the public to be vigilant.
“Don’t give them (petty criminals) the opportunity, like going out with genuine pieces of jewelry. This will attract would-be criminals,” he said.
He added that with most families outside their homes either attending parties or going on vacation, homeowners should make sure someone watches over their homes when they are away.
He expects an increase in thefts and robberies as Christmas draws near. (MEA/JST)
