Gov to make shootfest province-wide

CEBU, Philippines - Policemen all over the province will now get the chance to showcase their shooting skills after Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced her plan to have a Cebu-wide shootfest.

The governor was inspired by the success of the shootfest initiated by officials in the third district of Cebu Province.

 Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador brought up the idea during the awarding of the PNP Proficiency Shootfest initiated by Rep. Pablo John Garcia and Provincial Board Members Cesar Ian Zambo and Alex Binghay at the Capitol last week.

Garcia hopes to make the shoot fest a province-wide event to improve the shooting proficiency of policemen assigned to 44 towns and seven cities in Cebu.

“Gitan-aw ug gilantaw nako kini nga usa ka nindot gyud kaayo nga ideya. . . daw gibuksan ang akong mga mata sa usa pa ka maanindot kaayo nga kalihukan nga angay natong buhaton province-wide sa ta-nan natong kapolisan,” Garcia said as she thanks the two board members.

With the limited resources of the PNP, Garcia assured that the province will subsidize the cost of bullets to be used by the contenders.

A 9 mm reloaded bullet reportedly costs P6 each and in a training session, one can easily fire 100 bullets.

“Maklaro na gyud kinsa’y makaigo ug kinsa angay ig-on,” Garcia said.

Comendador himself has participated in the recent competition in the third district where he placed fourth while SPO1 Peter Cuanso of Toledo City Police Station placed first.

Comendador and Cuanso used 9 mm pistols during the tournament.

The shootfest is held annually for policemen assigned in the city of Toledo and the towns of Aloguinsan, Asturias, Balamban, Barili, Pinamungajan, Tuburan and Tabuelan, all in the third district.

 During the tournament, Toledo City provided 2,000 bullets to the Toledo police team, composed of 16 officers.

The shootfest was a new addition to the sports tournament which Rep. Garcia has initiated to foster camaraderie among local government officials in the third district. - THE FREEMAN