Querol won’t seal cops’ guns but vows to punish violators
Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., police regional director, said yesterday he would rather not tape the muzzles of the firearms of policemen under the Police Regional Office 6 during the Christmas holidays as he trusts they are responsible enough to know when to use their firearms.
“I believe that our policemen know the pros and cons of what they do, especially if they discharge their guns illegally,” he said.
He said what is important is that policemen follow the Philippine National Police rules and regulations.
“If they don’t, they will be dealt with accordingly. Sanctions, both administrative and criminal, will be slapped against violators,” Querol warned.
Querol’s predecessors practiced the sealing of the muzzles of the policemen’s firearms using a masking tape before they go on Christmas break.
The policemen’s direct superior then affixes their signature on the masking tapes.
After the holidays, the firearms are inspected to determine if the policemen complied with the firing ban.
Though he believes otherwise, Querol said he is leaving it to his subordinate commanders to decide whether to seal the guns of their own subordinates.
“It’s their discretion to make sure that no cop illegally discharges his gun,” he added.
In Bacolod City, Senior Supt. Celestino Guara Jr., city police director, signed all sealed firearms of policemen under his watch in simple rites held at the Bacolod City Police Office parade ground.
Also in southern Iloilo, troopers of the 82nd Infantry Battalion based in Miagao sealed their firearms during the 75th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Tuesday to symbolize their commitment to the unilateral ceasefire until January 3.*
