CEBU, Philippines – The Provincial Regional Office-7 assured that it is continuously taking efforts to improve the shooting skills of its personnel.
The statement followed an earlier report that said “90 percent of police officers nationwide failed the firearms proficiency test.”
The PRO-7 said it took the report as a challenge in order to meet the gun proficiency standard of the International Defensive Pistol Association.
Even before the report came out, the PRO-7 had conducted a firing proficiency test to all its members in the region.
At least 180 PRO-7 members participated in the test. Of those who took the test, 79 were classified as novice.
However, the PRO-7 clarified that the classification does not mean that its personnel do not know how to handle a firearm.
Police Superintendent Noel Gillamac said that the novice classification does not mean that their personnel cannot hit the target “but rather did not meet the required firing proficiency standard as compared to professional civilian shooters who has all the resources to enhance their skills.”
Gillamac assured that they are continuously conducting gun training with the help of local government units and the private sector.
The Cebu City Police Office has 409 members who participated in the proficiency test and 199 of them were novice.
“CCPO has been a recipient of tremendous support from the local government unit in terms of logistics requirements such as firearms and police vehicles,” Gillamac said. - AJ A. de la Torre/LPM (THE FREEMAN)