Policemen nationwide unseal their guns

Philippine National Police Logistics Support Service head Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac leads the simultaneous removal of taped firearms muzzles in Camp Crame. Photo courtesy of Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac

MANILA, Philippines—On the second day of January 2015, first thing policemen did was to unseal their service firearms earlier taped to prevent indiscriminate firing during the Christmas and New Year revelry.

In a simultaneous ceremonies nationwide, superiors of all police units in Metro Manila, Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao led the unmasking of the muzzle of service firearms on Friday morning.

On December 22, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, the PNP’s newly appointed officer-in-charge, ordered the sealing with masking tape of the guns of the 150,000-strong police force to ensure a “gun-free” holiday celebration.

However, Espina said four policemen were separately arrested for firing their guns in Metro Manila, Davao and in two regions.

“We will proceed against them both administratively and criminally at ito po ay magiging sanhi ng kanilang dismissal from the service,” he said.

The first stray bullet fatality of 2015 was an 11-year-old girl in Bumagcat, Tagum town in Abra province. A 13-year-old boy from Manabo, Abra, was also hurt when a stray bullet hit his right arm.

Meanwhile, amid the New Year merrymaking in Caloocan, 13-year-old Maybelle Lou Juanitas was hit in the head by a stray bullet. Juanitas survived but was still undergoing treatment in a hospital.

Police units all over the country posted on social media their unsealing ceremonies held Friday morning.

PDIR Valmoria, RD NCRPO, during the Simultaneous Nationwide Removal of Firearms Muzzle Tapes at Camp Bagong Diwa. pic.twitter.com/h1eFgxvZwE

— ORD NCRPO (@ordncrpo) January 2, 2015

Simultaneous unmasking of firearms muzzle pic.twitter.com/LvgbvvggQA — pulis olongapo (@olongapops1) January 2, 2015

1.2.15 MG conduted Simultaneous Unmasking of Firearms Muzzle w/ PSSUPT ANGARA,CS @pnp_dmg @pnpdpcr @pnppio @PNP_OTCDS pic.twitter.com/x0quwQAhER

— PNP Maritime Goup (@maritime_hq) January 2, 2015

Pampanga PPO joins in Simultaneous Unmasking of Firearms Muzzle pic.twitter.com/XfwipsiUhQ — Pampanga PPO PIO (@PampangaPPO) January 2, 2015

@pnppro1 Simultaneous unmasking of Firearms Muzzle Tapes led by PSSUPT STERLING RAYMUND P BLANCO, OIC. pic.twitter.com/tLcndQnc2N

— pcrilocosnorte (@ilocosnortepcr) January 2, 2015

QPPSC Personnel conducted simultaneous unmasking of firearms muzzle nationwide on January 02, 2015 at 8AM. pic.twitter.com/Py8JuQk8iG — QUEZON PPSC (@QuezonPPSC) January 2, 2015

@rpio_pro3 Unmasking of muzzle firearms pic.twitter.com/wJWCQZmZwx

— pulis olongapo (@OlongapoPio) January 2, 2015

H5SAB and 55SAC during the Simultaneous Unmasking of Firearms Muzzle at H5SAB, Old ATO Radar Station, Mercedes, Z.C. pic.twitter.com/ACIGwhJpsq — 5th SAB PNP SAF (@5thSABSAF) January 2, 2015

PSI LUBATON led the unmasking of tape of the ICPS personnel’s issued firearms. pic.twitter.com/yXTBqrJqME

— Isabela City PS (@isabela_city_ps) January 2, 2015

@rpio_pro3 Simultaneous Unmasking of Firearms Muzzle held today, 8 AM at PRO3 RHQs, Camp Olivas, CSFP. pic.twitter.com/38eme1OX5C — ORCDSPRO3 (@RCDSPRO3) January 2, 2015

@pnppro1 Conduct of simultaneous unmasking of firearms muzzle tp all personnel pic.twitter.com/p4gzsmBtDH

— pangppo_malasiquips (@malasiquips) January 2, 2015

@pnppro1 PSINSP Quintin T. Casabar Jr.,DCOP of this office, led the conduct of simultaneous unmasking of firearms. pic.twitter.com/XPPWjwlz2G — @PANGPPO_RosalesPS (@pcr_rosales_pnp) January 2, 2015

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