Shooting relieves stress of office, says Aquino

Shooting helps ease the stress of the presidency, President Aquino told participants in a military shooting tournament on Saturday.

“I use shooting as a tension reliever so that, even just once a week, I have something else to think about other than the problems of our country,” Mr. Aquino said in an impromptu speech during the opening ceremonies and firing range blessing at Villamor Airbase.

“And that I think helps me make decisions properly,” he added.

“Just like a car, it would be difficult if it’s always in fifth or sixth gear, with the accelerator always on the floor. It would really wear down the car and it’s like making the car obsolete faster,” the President said.

Mr. Aquino also said that by 2012, there might be enough pistols for the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The President said that when his administration started, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP were like poor cowboys (kawawang koboy) who did not have enough bullets and guns.

“Bottom line, there are about 40,000 PNP personnel who are not yet armed,” the President said.

With a little luck, he said, the government might be able to provide enough pistols by.

He said the PNP was currently conducting a bidding for one type of pistol, so it could do away with the seven standard pistols it is currently using.

The next project, President Aquino said, would be to buy enough rifles.

“And of course the other services are not being left behind,” he said.