BACOLOD City – Officers of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) were reminded not to indiscriminately fire their guns during the Yuletide.
The muzzles of their service firearms will not be sealed this year, as ordered by Director General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, the Nocppo said in a statement.
Albayalde is confident that police officers are responsible enough not to use their firearms while merrymaking, said the Nocppo.
But Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., provincial police director, still warned those who might get carried away.
Those who will be caught firing or proven to have discharged their service firearms without a justified reason will face charges – or, worse, dismissal from the service – the Nocppo said.
The PNP has been traditionally sealing the firearms of officers across the country, expressly banning them from using their weapons as noisemakers.
Firing guns to make noise is common among some merrymakers during the New Year’s Eve celebration.
Local police officers are “well-aware” of this information and have been diligent in following the orders from the national headquarters, said the Nocppo.
Castil appealed to the public to be vigilant and report to the police any case of gun firing in their communities during the holiday celebrations./PN
