KEEPING with the practice over the past eight years, the guns of the 232,000-strong police force won’t be sealed as the world welcomes 2025 although the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed a tougher campaign against indiscriminate firing during the New Year revelries.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil told the Journal Group that by doing so, they really build trust on their personnel’s ‘high level of discipline.’

Officials also say they are sure that their men are disciplined and responsible enough when it comes to the proper use of their service firearms.

The non-sealing of a cop’s gun is also another way of building public trust and confidence on the force as it raises the bar of discipline and promotes responsible use of government-issued firearms among the policemen.

During the 1st week of January 2024, the PNP said 12 people suffered injuries due to stray bullets during the 2024 Christmas and New Year festivities.

During the same period in 2023, there were 12 stray bullet incidents, while 11 similar incidents were recorded in 2022.

Ground commanders face the penalty of administrative relief in case they prevent or fail to solve firing of guns in the air or stray bullet incidents in their areas before and during the New Year festivities, the Journal Group learned.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo explained that since they started veering away from the traditional practice of putting masking tapes on the muzzles of the service firearms of their men, they have been able to prove that members of the police force are responsible enough.

In 2022, there was no case of indiscriminate firing involving a policeman.

In 2021, there were a total of 25 incidents of illegal discharge of firearms which injured 1 person as well as 11 persons injured by stray bullets.

However, during the 2023 New Year revelries, police recorded three cases of indiscriminate firing in Iloilo, Manila and Quezon City from December 31, 2022 to January 1, 2023.

As a result, the gun licenses of those involved in the indiscriminate firing cases were revoked.

The PNP chief has consistently warned before the onset of their holiday security operations that criminal liability for indiscriminate firing is further aggravated if the offender belongs to the uniformed services.

The PNP Civil Security Group headed by Major Gen. Leo M. Francisco and the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office under Brigadier Gen. Ericson D. Dilag was directed by the PNP chief to consolidate the names of those who will violate the law on firearms use and to revoke their licenses without delay.

PNP officials explained that they veered away from the tradition knowing that foreign tourists in the country are wondering why the guns of policemen patrolling near them are sealed and signed by the beat officer.

The PNP leadership, however, assured its operational readiness to protect the public and ensure a peaceful and orderly observance of the Yuletide while continuing their no let-up drive against criminality, drugs and rogues in uniform during the period.

Gen. Marbil said the entire police force is already on maximum alert to ensure the operational readiness and preparedness of their men in the field, especially those who will be conducting operations during the holiday period.

This alert condition ensures the readiness of PNP units to respond to contingencies and police emergencies that are perennially associated with the traditional observance of the Yuletide.

Marbil has reminded all his commanders to be on the lookout against indiscriminate firing and ordered crack police teams to immediately arrest anybody who will be reported to have fired a gun in the air without any reason.

He said that violators will be severely dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.

“The full might of the law will be applied to anyone who will fire a gun to celebrate the holidays, much more if the violator belongs to the uniformed services. Dismissal from the government service shall be swift,” he declared.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon