It seems trigger-happy cops have learned their lesson.
From eight policemen arrested for using their service firearms during the Christmas season last 2014, only one police officer was caught by his colleagues for illegal gun discharge over the holidays of 2015.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) saw this as a “big improvement” on the effort of the law enforcement agency in keeping the celebration of Christmas and New Year peaceful.
But the PNP is not satisfied with decrease.
PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez in an interview on Monday said, “You know, zero ang ating sanang hinahabol na figures.”
He said the improvement in the statistics means the PNP “learned a lot from so many new year’s (eve) celebrations.”
On December 22, PO1 Francis Flake of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) used his service firearm in front of a restaurant in Malate, Manila.
“We don’t need people like him. We will make sure he is dismissed from the service,” said Marquez.
Based on the tally of the PNP since December 16, a total of 11 incidents of illegal gun discharge were recorded—lower compared to last year’s 24.
Meanwhile, the number of arrests for illegal use of firearms was cut in half from 18 to nine arrests as of Monday, January 4.
Stray bullet incidents also decreased by 10 cases from last year’s 64 cases, according to the PNP’s record.
Marquez said one of the measures the PNP can enforce to prevent indiscriminate firing is to add more security cameras in major cities.
“(Addressing stray bullet cases) remains a challenge so we need more tools on the ground. Not only police presence but we need CCTVs so that makita natin ‘yung mga nagpapaputok,” Marquez added. JE