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Metro cops no longer required to seal service firearms


MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan cops are no longer required to seal off their gun muzzles unless directed otherwise by police district chiefs, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil said Friday. In a press conference at Camp Crame, Bataoil said it is now time for the police to show that they can be trusted in not using their guns in celebration of the New Year. "I believe that our men can be trusted but for the commanders who still want to observe that practice (sealing off of gun muzzles), we will certainly respect that," Bataoil said. "There are two schools of thought on this matter and we respect and uphold the arguments of those who want to tape the muzzle of their guns and those who do not favor on that," Bataoil added. But he acknowledged that the symbolic taping of gun muzzles in the past had resulted in the decrease of indiscriminate firing incidents. So far, not one of the five police districts in Metro Manila has signified interest in taping the muzzles of police service firearms for the New Year. The Quezon City Police District, for example, said it may not implement the annual practice of taping the guns but will instead rely on police officers' ability to observe the rule of not firing their guns unless necessary. Aside from trusting policemen to use their guns responsibly during the holidays, Bataoil urged Metro Manila residents to report any case of indiscriminate firing to the police. "It is also for their own safety actually. So if they saw someone, including policemen, firing their guns to celebrate New Year, they should not hesitate in reporting the matter to us and we assure them that we will act on their complaint," said the NCRPO chief. Bataoil added that appropriate criminal charges will be filed against both policemen and civilians who will be caught using their guns in celebration of the New Year. - GMANews.TV
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