PNP to enhance cops' firearms proficiency, marksmanship

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday it will enhance the firearms proficiency and marksmanship of its personnel to be more effective in their jobs.

PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said a proficiency examination will be conducted in July for police officers holding higher positions in the organization.

“Hindi lang sa promotion, pati sa positioning. Kapag nag-test sila at bagsak sila sa marksmanship, aba’y tatanggalin ko ang mga commanders na hindi makakapasa sa ating proficiency testing,” Torre said in an ambush interview.

(Not just in promotion, but also in positioning. When they test and fail in marksmanship, I will remove commanders who cannot pass our proficiency testing.)

Aside from this, Torre said he will also review the frequency of marksmanship tests for police officers.

“Hindi acceptable na ang pulis ay hindi marunong gumamit ng baril. Kaya pagdating sa classification standards, at hindi siya pumasa, meron nakasama sa regulation, i-re-recall ang kanyang baril na issue at siya ay mag-undergo ng training,” Torre said.

(It is not acceptable that a police officer does not know how to use a firearm. So when it comes to the classification standards, and they do not pass, it is included in the regulation, their firearm will be recalled and they will undergo training.)

“I'll be very, very strict,” he added.

According to Torre, the PNP’s Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD) has set firearms proficiency standards but these were not taken seriously.

“In terms of proficiency and efficiency in the use of firearms, very, very important yan. Sapagkat, buhay ang nakataya rito eh. Kapag ginamit mo at hindi mo alam paano gamitin, paano ang intended target, hindi mo tamaan, at ang tatamaan ay ang inosenteng tao. So, ayaw natin nun,” Torre said.

(In terms of proficiency and efficiency in the use of firearms, that's very, very important. Because, lives are at stake here. If you use it and you don't know how to use it, you fail to hit the intended target and the one who will be hit is an innocent person. So, we don't want that.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News