THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will again skip the muzzling of policemen’s firearms, which is traditionally done to prevent illegal firing during the holiday season, said PNP Chief Debold Sinas.
Sinas warned cops who will use their service firearms indiscriminately that they will be dismissed from police service.
“Hindi na, kasi napag-umpisahan na ng mga previous commanders yan na hindi na at naging effective naman. May restrain at disiplina na karamihan sa amin and proven na maski may tape ka kung gusto mo magbaril gagawin mo,” Sinas said in a press briefing Tuesday, December 15, in Camp Crame.
“Secondly, sometimes it help us ‘yung quick response kasi may time nagre-respond ka nakalimutan mo meron palang tape ‘yung baril mo, so mag-hesitant ka. So I think this time, majority or all of the policemen were already informed and they have the proper training and discipline so we rely na hindi na po magtatape ngayon,” he added.
The traditional muzzling of police firearms was stopped in 2016, during the leadership of former PNP chief now Senator Ronald dela Rosa.
Meanwhile, Sinas said he is inclined to letting policemen go on vacation leaves during the holiday season, adding they also deserve a break after nine months of working non-stop due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
“I will be calling after this command conference ‘yung all directorial staff to come up with the final stand whether mag Christmas break pero personally, ako for the longest mga 9 to 10 months na tayo, I think some of us deserve a break. So how we do that and how we implement it ay pag-usapan namin,” he said.
“We will just finalize things but what is definite, I am in favor of giving our personnel the Christmas break, staggard lang hindi kalahati. Maybe ¼ muna then rotate tayo para everybody has the chance to visit their families also during holidays,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)