Bacolod City Police director, Senior Supt. Ricardo dela Paz, led the capping of muzzles of service firearms yesterday as part of the pro-active measures against indiscriminate firing by members of the Philippine National Police.

The guns will be sealed until Jan. 7, 2013.

Dela Paz said he received the order from the Western Visayas PNP regional director Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz and the capping was done simultaneously in Region VI.

“We do not want our policemen to be tempted to use their firearms during Christmas and New Year celebrations,” dela Paz said.

He also encouraged civilians and the private sector to cooperate to avoid accidents. He said the police may file legal charges against civilians caught firing their guns during the muzzle-sealing period. Policemen can be held liable for illegal discharge of firearms if they use their guns without valid reasons, he also said.

However, dela Paz said that if policemen are in a critical situation that requires them to use their guns, they can do so.

He added that they have not recorded victims of a stray bullet in the past years and this is what they want to maintain. *LTG

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