ARMM police implementing 1:1 cop-to-gun ratio

MANILA, Philippines - After discovering the unequal distribution of firearms to its personnel, the  police regional office in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is now strictly implementing a policy to rationalize the issuance of mission-essential equipment to line units.

Earlier, an internal audit showed multiple issuance of firearms to personnel, even while there are some personnel who have yet to be issued with guns.

Chief Superintendent Noel delos Reyes, PRO-ARMM director, said in a report to Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima that the rationalized firearms distribution policy aims to ensure 100 percent fill-up of operational requirements for small arms and light weapons, particularly in maneuver units and frontline police stations by strictly implementing the 1:1 firearms distribution policy.

Delos Reyes said that the audit uncovered 228 personnel with more than one issued firearm, prompting authorities to recall a total of 737 issued firearms and re-issuing these to other units and personnel as determined by the obtaining threat level and crime situation.

He said the regionwide problem of multiple issuance of firearms was similarly noted at the Sulu Police Provincial Office.

He said that with the full implementation of the 1:1 firearms distribution policy as early as July 13, all 1,223 police personnel of Sulu PPO were already issued individual light weapons --M203 grenade launcher, M16, M14, BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle)-- or small arms such as a shotgun or a handgun.

Delos Reyes clarified independent observations that police forces in Sulu were inadequately equipped to perform anti-terrorism and anti-criminality operations in the province.

He said that personnel of Police Public Safety Company of the Sulu PPO were prioritized in the distribution of Class “A” Light Weapons while those assigned to administrative functions were issued small arms.

The same distribution policy was also observed in municipal police stations in the province.

The Sulu PPO has 50 Class “A” Light Weapons and 272 small arms on reserve at the Provincial Supply Accountable Office, even as the provincial police is yet to account for 335 firearms listed in its inventory but could not be found,  Delos Reyes said.