Policemen in Western Visayas were warned not to indiscriminately fire their guns as a form of merry-making during the Holidays or they might get fired from their service.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 director, told policemen in the region to work for a zero incident of indiscriminate firing or illegal discharge of firearms as he led yesterday’s traditional taping of gun muzzles of policemen assigned at PRO-6 headquarters at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City.

“Maraming paraan para ipagdiwang natin ang Kapaskuhan at New Year na hindi natin nilalagay sa peligro ang buhay ng ibang tao o ng mga mahal natin sa buhay at hindi kasama doon ang pagpapaputok ng baril,” he added.

On top of safety reasons, Cruz said that PNP personnel get discouraged in firing their guns because any one found guilty to have fired their guns inappropriately can be dismissed from the service for illegal discharge of firearms and other administrative cases.

“Indeed, it would be fire or get fired for our policemen,” he quipped.

For civilian gun holders, Cruz said if they would be found guilty of indiscriminate firing, their gun license will be revoked and they may be perpetually disqualified from holding a firearm.  

During last year’s New Year celebration, at least 15 slugs were recovered in the city and province of Iloilo.

However, the PNP clarified that it is possible that several slugs came from one gun.

In Iloilo province, two persons were injured because of stray bullets.*