MANILA, Philippines?Don?t shoot, just shout.
When confronted by a scuffle or a fleeing suspect, policemen are no longer allowed to fire warning shots, according to an order issued by the Philippine National Police in response to criticisms against the force because of civilians being hurt in police operations.
As he marked his first 100 days in the post, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa on Friday reiterated an existing policy against firing warning shots.
He directed policemen to choose the safer option: Use a whistle, a megaphone or your loudest voice.
?Policemen are no longer authorized to fire warning shots ... because that?s dangerous. We are revising our operational procedures to prevent civilian casualties,? he told reporters in Camp Crame.
He said policemen should use the public address system in the patrol cars and in police motorcycles.
?That?s really what should be done. The officer should shout ?Stop!?,? said Director German Doria, the chief of police community relations.
Verzosa said this has been the standing policy for the past one or two years, and it continues to be disseminated to police units around the country.
Parañaque shootout
He said those violating the order would be investigated, especially ?if a criminal case happens, like if the warning shot hits someone.?
The PNP has faced increasing criticism for recent operational lapses, the most serious of which was the death of six civilians in the Dec. 5 Parañaque shoot-out.
The PNP Internal Affairs Service said the police officers involved in the operation against a group of robbery suspects had failed in their mission as six civilians were among the 16 killed in the bloody encounter.
?Darkest stain?
Policemen figured in at least five other gun battles against robbery suspects last month but no civilians were hurt.
An internal probe of the Parañaque debacle recommended that nine officers of the PNP Highway Patrol Group be charged with administrative violations.
Verzosa said he considered the incident the darkest ?stain? in his initial three-month stint at the PNP chief?s post, even worse than the scandal involving a police delegation caught with 105,000 euros in unauthorized funds at the Moscow airport last October, which prompted a Senate probe.
He said the PNP has begun studying its rules of engagement after the IAS findings on the Dec. 5 shoot-out.
He said the Parañaque mission was ?a very good accomplishment, but it was overshadowed by an unfortunate incident because civilians were involved.?
?There were lapses among the operating elements in terms of procedure ... civilians were killed. It?s a very big thing, what happened was very complex.?
