PNP to guards: No guns to greet New Year

MANILA, Philippines – To prevent abuses by “irresponsible gun owners,” the Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered the muzzling of security guards’ firearms before New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31.

“Muzzle taping of all FAs issued/deployed to all security guards is on December 30, 2013 and the unsealing shall be done on the 2nd day of January 2014,” the PNP said in a statement

The PNP said its Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies issued this directive to operators, managers, and security officers of police security agencies, police detective agencies, company guard forces, and government security units.

“The said directive is in connection with the simultaneous implementation among provincial units to regional offices to make sure that the issued firearms of PNP personnel are not used other than in the performance of their sworn duties as law enforcers furthering to indiscriminately firing during the celebration of holiday seasons,” the PNP said.

Jobs a stake

In the statement, Police Chief Supt Tomas Rentoy III said private security agencies should submit compliance reports, along with pictures, by Jan 15, 2014. This should come with their monthly report for December 2013.

Rentoy said violators “will face appropriate charges or even dismissal from the service.”

Stray bullets have killed or injured Filipinos in previous New Year’s Eve celebrations.

In January, a 7-year-old girl died after a stray bullet hit her while watching a fireworks display to greet the New Year. (READ: Fireworks were the last images Nicole saw.)

The death of the girl, Nicole, revived debates on gun control. (READ: Can a gun ban prevent another Nicole shooting?) – Paterno Esmaquel II/Rappler.com