PNP open to sanctioning police heads in areas with reported indiscriminate firing —spox

The Philippine National Police is supporting the proposal to relieve immediate supervisors and police heads in areas where indiscriminate firing incidents are reported, its spokesperson said on Wednesday.

In a radio interview, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Roderick Alba underscored that the police organization has been campaigning against indiscriminate firing.

“We support 'yung proposal, 'yung sinasabi po sa Senate (We support the proposal during the Senate hearing),” he said.

“On the part of the PNP, although wala pa kaming specific guidelines particularly putting tapes doon sa muzzle ng aming firearms, but we support the idea,” he added.

(On the part of the PNP, although we do not have specific guidelines yet particularly putting tapes on the muzzle of the firearms of cops, we support the idea.)

Alba noted that indiscriminate firing does not only involve cops and soldiers but also civilians who are gun owners.

“I just want to make it clear that let's not just focus on uniformed service…Kasi there are also owners na nandiyan lang sa bahay-bahay (because there are also owners that are just at home),” he said.

“Of course we don’t want to repeat ‘yung history, 'yung data nito na talagang may nabibiktima nito (that there were really victims),” he added.

On January 1, 2021, the PNP said there were at least two reported cases of indiscriminate firing of weapon, one involving a police officer.

Last month, PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos vowed that his leadership will not tolerate the indiscriminate firing of firearms.

Carlos made the commitment in a joint Senate committee hearing on bills increasing the penalty for indiscriminate firing of firearms.

The PNP chief also told the Senate panel that part of his policy is the suspension of the immediate supervisor if a subordinate has committed indiscriminate firing.

The Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs joint with Justice and Human Rights has approved Senate Bill 1531 and House Bill 6123 at the committee level.

SB 1531 seeks to increase the penalty for discharge of firearms and provide a clear definition of indiscriminate firing and its corresponding penalties. —KG, GMA News