PNP gets P2-B in guns, motorcycles to fight crime

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde inspects one of the Canik 9-mm pistol bought by the police for their anticrime operations. The PNP presented to media some of the P2-billion worth of new firearms and motorcycle Wednesday, August 29, 2018. INQUIRER.NET / CATHRINE GONZALES

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has bought over P2-billion worth of guns and motorcycles to enhance the capability of its policemen in anti-crime operations.

The PNP presented to media on Wednesday some of the 13,103 basic assault rifles, 11,920 units of 9-mm pistols, 531 machine guns, and 310 motorcycles it received.

LOOK: PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde inspects new equipment of the police. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/cE5k5E5f8T

— Cathrine Gonzales (@cgonzalesINQ) August 29, 2018

“Malaki ang maitutulong nito, ‘yung capability enhancement program natin, ‘yung fight sa criminality natin, and of course, sa police visibility,” PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde told reporters in a press briefing.

(This can help a lot in our capability enhancement program, fight against criminality, and of course, in police visibility.)

The basic assault rifles and light machine gun will be issued to mobile forces and the Maritime Group, while the pistols will be given to new police recruits and the Special Action Force, the statement read.

“Nakita n’yo naman kung gaano karami ang baril dito. We are trying to enhance the fire power of our regional mobile forces particularly yung mga nasa province and Special Action Force,” Albayalde said.

(You can see how many these guns are. We are trying to enhance the fire power of our regional mobile forces particularly those in the provinces and the Special Action Force.)

The motorcycles, meanwhile, will be issued to the Highway Patrol Group, according to the statement.

Albayalde told policemen who would receive the motorcycles to use them only for legitimate operations.

“Dapat magamit ito hindi sa pamamasyal. Gamitin ito sa pagpapatrolya sa Oplan Sita,” he said, referring to the strategy of the PNP to target motorcycle-riding suspects.

(This should not be used in trips. Use these in patrol operations in Oplan Sita.) /cbb