Shooting practices, tourneys set for Metro cops this week

MANILA, Philippines — With the aim of sharpening the shooting skills of policemen in Metro Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has launched a series of target shooting practices and competitions throughout the week in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

Police officers from the five districts of the NCRPO, along with the Regional Public Safety Battalion, will join in the NCRPO’s first Shotgun Competition and the Fourth NCRPO Challenge at the Camp Bagong Diwa’s Firing Range.

NCRPO Director Alan Purisima said that the two events would help police officers maintain their shooting skills.

“These competitions are relevant as they maintain our police personnel’s zest, agility and discipline. It helps them be prepared so that, in any situation, they can respond properly,” Purisima said in a statement.

The competitions specifically will test the policemen’s skills in handling shotguns, rifles, and other weapons, and also aims to develop physical fitness and alertness of the officers.

Earlier, the NCRPO held a similar event for members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams of the respective districts, where Purisima warned that those deemed unfit would be weeded out of the teams.

“We will remove any personnel who will not meet nor fit to the standards and those who are not mentally tough enough as required by their jobs,” he said.

Purisima said the SWAT competition, held at the NCRPO firing range in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig, threw real-life situations to SWAT members to test their skills, primarily on shooting, physical fitness and decisiveness.

Aside from individual judging criteria, the teams will also be judged on how cohesive and united they are in achieving their task.

According to Purisima, expectations run high for members of the SWAT teams, as they are called to duty in intense and challenging situations, with little or no room for error in terms of decision-making.

“The people expect more from SWAT-trained police officers as their skills are different from ordinary street cops. Therefore, only those who are fit to be in special reaction units will be retained,” he said.

And while the NCRPO would be filtering out the best from the rest, Purisima assured the public that further training programs would be provided for the entire police force to improve on their skills.