Aklan cops told to refrain from indiscriminate firing during holidays
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) has urged the police officers to observe 'no firing of guns' for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Senior Superintendent Epifanio Bragais, Jr. said the sealing of policemen's gun muzzle with masking tape aims to prevent the indiscriminate firing during the coming New Year celebration.

Bragais recently led the ceremonial muzzle-taping of issued guns of policemen assigned at the Camp Pastor Martelino in Barangay New Buswang here, two weeks before the New Year.

"The taping of the muzzle is done to make sure their government-issued firearms were not used indiscriminately for the New Year revelry. This is also to remind our personnel of the consequences if they engaged in indiscriminate firing," he said during the Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) with the Aklan Police and Defense Press Corps (APDPC).

The police director stressed those violating or firing of guns in welcoming the New Year will be investigated and faced possible criminal and administrative charges for illegal discharge of weapons.

The sealing of firearms is an annual campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the revelries to refrain the policemen from using their guns, unless for justifiable reasons. Security guards, military and licensed civilian gun owners are also encouraged to support any form of indiscriminate firing during the long holidays.

"Ang pagpapaputok ng mga pulis ay majustify sa kanilang report at mga witnesses na mayroong nangyaring opisyal na pagtupad ng tungkulin. At kung sakaling hindi sila involved sa pagtupad ng kanilang tungkulin, sila ay iimbestigahan at kung nagkasala sila, marapat lamang na paparusahan sila," Bragais said.

Meanwhile, Bragais also directed the police chiefs in 17 towns to intensify the campaign against the selling of illegal firecrackers weeks before the Christmas day. He also reiterated the hazards of illegal firecrackers and stray bullets during the New Year celebrations.