City sets aside P2.8M for cops' training in firearms

The city council has set aside P2.8 million for the training of 700 policemen in firearms proficiency from July to December this year.

A proposed resolution to this effect and which was sponsored by Councilor Augustus "Jun" Pe Jr., who is a member of the council's committee on police, was adopted by the city council during its regular session last Wednesday afternoon.

In relation to this, another proposed measure approved by the local legislative body was the one authorizing Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña for and in behalf of the city government to renew its memorandum of agreement with the Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association represented by its vice-president Albert Lim.

It would cost the city P4,000 for the training of each police personnel, and thus firearms proficiency training of the 700 city policemen amounts to a total P2.8 million.

The P2.8 million allocation will be made into four disbursements since the 700 city police personnel will be divided into four batches and thus, there will be a total of four training sessions to be conducted one after the other.

The funds allocated for this purpose will be taken from the city's share of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation funds, aimed at improving the city's peace and order situation.

The city policemen will be given training on safe gun handling, basic marksmanship and combat shooting.

It has been since two years ago that the city tapped the services of CPRA for this purpose, just shortly after SPO4 Juanito Pajantoy, who is now facing charges of murder and reckless imprudence resulting to homicide for the deaths of alleged snatcher Omar Patiño and PO3 Michael Sarcol on July 15, 2003.