MANILA, Philippines–Starting Monday next week, service firearms of all policemen nationwide will be taped shut as the Philippine National Police aims for “gun-free” Christmas and New Year revelries to prevent cases of indiscriminate firing.
Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, PNP officer-in-charge, said in a statement Friday that a memorandum was issued to all members of the 150,000-strong PNP to participate in the simultaneous gun muzzle taping on December 22.
The move is part of PNP’s campaign against illegal discharge of firearms and indiscriminate firing for trigger-happy individuals during the celebration of Christmas and New Year.
From the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City down to municipal police stations, all policemen across the country will tape the muzzles of their service firearms.
“This traditional gun muzzle is a strong message to all gun owners, especially our policemen and soldiers who are the primary enforcers of the law, to refrain from firing their guns and help prevent casualties and injuries during the revelry of the yuletide,” Espina said.
Espina vowed to identify and hunt down violators as the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies beef up their intelligence efforts.
Joint teams of PNP and AFP personnel will be deployed nationwide to conduct preventive patrols to arrest uniformed personnel, members of law enforcement agencies as well as civilians who will be caught firing their guns.
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