NCRPO cops’ guns taped for holidays

MANILA, Philippines - The gun muzzles of around 18,000 police officers from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) were taped yesterday to prevent them from being fired indiscriminately during the Christmas and New Year revelries.

NCRPO chief Director Carmelo Valmoria led the ceremonial taping of gun muzzles during simple ceremonies yesterday at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The NCRPO chief clarified that policemen can fire their guns while in the call of duty, especially while chasing criminals and terrorists. However, they must report the incidents to their superiors so they would not be mistakenly punished for firing their guns.

The practice of taping the gun muzzle of policemen was started during the term of former NCRPO and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief retired Director General Edgar Aglipay to reduce the number of casualties of indiscriminate firing during the Christmas and New Year revelries.

According to Senior Superintendent Wilson Caubat, the chief of directorial staff of the Eastern Police District, the taping of gun muzzles is aimed “to remind each and every (police officer) to refrain from using their firearms while we are celebrating the New Year.”

Records show that seven-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella was killed by a stray bullet and at least 171 people were hurt during the New Year revelry for 2013.

“One bad example of which is the last year’s tragic New Years’ celebration in Caloocan City involving a child who was hit by a stray bullet. Of course, we don’t want anyone from our families to get hurt also, so we should refrain from doing such acts,” Cabuat said.