AFP to enforce ban on firing of guns

Armed Forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga warned soldiers yesterday that they would face punishment if they fire their guns to welcome the New Year.

"Commanders at all levels shall seriously deal with errant officers and enlisted personnel who would fire their weapons to welcome 2006, and injure innocent individuals in doing so," he said in a statement.

Senga urged men in uniform to serve as examples to their communities by celebrating the New Year in a festive mode without firing their weapons.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines joins the nation as it observes a gunless end-of-the-year revelry," he said.

Senga said military hospitals nationwide have been placed on a state of high alert, including the AFP Medical Center on V. Luna Road, Quezon City.

"The AFP Medical Center as well as the other military medical facilities all over the country have been alerted to prepare for immediate action on emergency cases and injuries that are concomitant to the New Year festivities," he said.

In Central and Northern Luzon starting yesterday, the gun barrels of soldiers were sealed with masking tape, a method to ensure the weapons are not tampered with until the New Year revelries are over.

Nolcom spokesman Col. Preme Monta explained the masking tape on the guns would be signed by the commanding officers of all military personnel. "The tapes are not to be tampered with and to be removed only on Jan. 2 in the presence of their commanding officers," he said.

Armed Forces Northern Luzon commander Maj. Gen. Romeo Tolentino said soldiers caught illegally discharging their weapons would be charged with two counts of violation of the Articles of War, and could also face charges before a civilian court.

"Only those who are doing combat-related tasks are exempt from this directive, otherwise, the violators can be charged with violation of Article of War 96 and 97, or conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline," he said.

"They can also be charged before a civilian court for illegal discharge of firearm."

Tolentino named Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, Army 7th Infantry Division commander based in Palayan City, and Maj. Gen. Ericson Aurelio, Army 5th Infantry Division commander based in Gamu, Isabela, to oversee the "strict implementation" of his directive.

The directive applies to all military personnel in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

However, Monta said soldiers are authorized to fire their weapons in clashes with rebels.

"They will have to defend themselves and fire their arms," he said.

At the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila, officer-in-charge Nestor Mantaring will give the order for his men not to fire any weapons during New Year celebrations.

"No masking tape is required since we do not have that many agents with guns," he noted. "Besides, we never had an instance in the NBI wherein an agent was found to have fired his gun indiscriminately during New Year (celebrations)."

Mantaring said he is already drafting the memorandum to be sent to all NBI bureau offices today, before they go on a three-day holiday.

"The memorandum would be issued to all the agents, special investigators and other official gun holders," he said. "They would be instructed not to fire their guns during the New Year revelry."

Mantaring said he would not hesitate to file administrative charges against any agent caught firing his weapon indiscriminately.

For his part, Manila Police Distict (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong also instructed his station commanders to seal all service firearms with masking tape and have them signed by commanding officers.

He said failure to comply with this directive could cost the policemen their jobs.

"Fire your guns during New Year revelry and you are fired," he said.

"All service firearms will be sealed with the initials of station commanders and chiefs of offices, then we’ll conduct a surprise inspection on their guns and ammunition. If they violate this rule then the MPD will immediately subject them to appropriate charges."

Bulaong said Manila police have also intensified their campaign against loose firearms and would be increasing checkpoints to prevent shooting incidents.

The MPD is aspiring to have a "zero-victim" New Year, with as few casualties from firecracker mishaps as possible and "zero" shooting incidents from indiscriminate firing of weapons, he added.

Bulaong also directed his station commanders to enhance their campaign against illegal firecrackers.

"I have also instructed our commanders to identify firecracker zones in their respective areas of responsibility and assign safety officer with a representative from the local government units, rescue volunteer and barangay tanods in every designated area," he said.

"We have to be extremely careful to avoid untoward incidents this coming New Year."

In another development, Nolcom reported yesterday that 23 high-powered firearms were surrendered to the Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion by residents of Barangay Partida in San Miguel, Bulacan.

"This is a positive development amidst the intensified drive undertaken by the Special Operations Team of 24th IB against the proliferation of loose firearms which otherwise could be used for criminal activities and other forms of lawlessness and terrorism," he said.

Residents turned over one M16 rifle, three shotguns, one 22-caliber rifle, five 45-caliber pistols, five 9MM pistols, six 38-caliber pistols, one 357-caliber pistol and one 22-caliber pistol.

Through the years, the military brass has been very strict in the implementation of its ban on the illegal discharge of firearms by soldiers. — Jaime Laude, Ding Cervantes, Evelyn Macairan