Guns of Manila Police SWAT members unsealed

MANILA, Philippines — The service firearms of several officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics unit of the Manila Police District were unsealed on Monday morning at their headquarters along UN Avenue in Manila, a day after the New Year.

Superintendent Dominador Arevalo Jr., commander of the MPD’s District Public Safety Battalion, said that they took off the tapes covering the barrels of their policemen’s firearms as per directive from Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

Superintendent Edgar Ferrater, who was also part of the party of police officials who led the inspection, said that lawmen whose service firearms were found unmuzzled ahead of the inspection would be investigated as to when and why they used their guns despite orders from the PNP leadership.

He said that they have not found any officer from the MPD with unsealed guns so far.

Ferrater, however, mentioned that PO1 Fulgencio Sideco of the National Capital Region Police Office was under investigation after he was accused of indiscriminate firing on the night of Christmas in Tondo, Manila.

Sideco was not their officer but the MPD would conduct an investigation since he was accused of firing his gun in Manila, explained Ferrater.

Arevalo said policemen whose firearms were used before the inspection would be asked to justify why their guns were fired during the holidays.

“It is wrong if they fired their guns to celebrate the New Year,” he said.