Taping of gun muzzles set today

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Police Office will hold its annual taping of gun muzzles today at the headquarters to preempt cops from firing indiscriminately during the holidays.

Sr. Supt. Jesus Gaquing, director of the CPPO, said that including him, there are about 50 policemen from the different units of the headquarters whose guns will be taped starting today until the New Year.

Gaquing said that the number is still excluding those cops from police stations under the jurisdiction of the CPPO who would want also to have their guns taped.

He said that he and two of his deputies will countersign the masked tapes.

He said the purpose of taping the muzzles of the police guns is for them to identify those gun owners who may fire indiscriminately during Christmas or New Year revelries.

He added that those who will violate the law will be dismissed from the PNP service after undergoing investigation and observing due process.

The police explained that the taping of gun muzzles would not prevent the gun from firing, but any attempts to remove it or fire it will definitely manifest.

Thus, during operations, a gun with taped muzzle will fire just as well as a gun that doesn’t have any tape on.

Gaquing said that the police can use the guns in response to an alarm. Owners of guns with busted masking tapes would then be asked to explain how the tapes got busted.

He said the CPPO will check on the firearms of their men and take the tapes off on January 2.

Other police stations under the province and those in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue will follow in taping gun muzzles. — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)