Firearm holders warned against firing guns during holidays

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome warned police, military and civilian firearm holders against firing their guns during the holiday merrymaking or face arrest and charges.

Bartolome also called on the public to report to authorities any incident of indiscriminate firing to allow the PNP to take immediate action against irresponsible gun holders.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the PNP will be uncompromising in enforcing the law against trigger-happy gun holders.

“The PNP chief directed all regional directors and national support unit commanders to conduct the traditional taping of gun muzzles of all issued firearms immediately after Christmas Day to reinforce the law,” Cruz said.

Authorities reported about 30 cases of indiscriminate firing nationwide three days after this year’s New Year revelry.

Of the 30 cases, eight were in Metro Manila, three in Central Luzon, two in Southern Mindanao and one in Central Mindanao.

However, only five persons were arrested for indiscriminate firing.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo directed governors, mayors and barangay officials to set up “firecracker and pyrotechnic zones” as part of the effort to minimize casualties that goes with the revelry this holiday season, especially on New Year’s Day.

Robredo said the firecracker and pyrotechnic zones will allow people to light firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in celebrating the holidays.

He enjoined local chief executives to regulate the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices in their respective localities as mandated by Republic Act 7183.  

In his directive, Robredo urged local authorities to make sure that only baby rocket, “bawang,” small triangulo, pulling of string, paper cups, el Diablo, Judas’ belt, sky rocket (kwitis) and other types equivalent in explosive contents are manufactured, sold, distributed or used.

For pyrotechnic devices, those that are allowed are sparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo, mabuhay, Roman candle, trumpillo, airwolf, whistle device and butterfly, among others.

Robredo also directed local officials to take the lead in the conduct of an information campaign on the proper use of all kinds of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, and to be watchful of radical groups that may take advantage of the holiday season’s merriment for their lawless designs.

 Police visibility

Meanwhile, the start of the traditional “Simbang Gabi” in Metro Manila was peaceful and orderly.

“Nothing significant was reported, especially in the aspect of criminality,” said Director Alan Purisima, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Despite the success of their security operations on the first day of the Simbang Gabi, Purisima urged his men not to lower their guard as criminals might take advantage of the situation.

The NCRPO chief directed his five police district directors to concentrate their security operations not only on churches where dawn Masses are being held but also on the homes of parishioners.

Bartolome directed police regional, provincial and station commanders to step up police visibility which has been proven effective in prevent criminals from carrying out their illegal activities.

“I specifically instructed field unit commanders to deploy mobile patrol units with blinkers turned on to visibly establish police presence which has been proven as an effective deterrent to crime,” he said.

The PNP chief made the rounds of several Metro Manila churches yesterday to personally assess the implementation of the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS) around churches where parishioners gather to attend the traditional nine-day dawn masses or Misa de Gallo ushering the Christmas season.

He instructed all police commanders to redirect PIPS operations to maximize police visibility around churches and reminded local police units to be on the lookout for criminal elements engaged in common street crime such as robbery, theft, burglary of unattended residences, mugging, swindling and gang wars.

“Local police units were instructed to coordinate closely with local government units and barangay authorities to muster support from village watchmen, citizen volunteers and other force multipliers,” Bartolome added.

Online Simbang Gabi

Meanwhile, Filipino Catholics working abroad would still be able to participate in the nine-day Simbang Gabi by watching the Eucharistic Masses at the Quiapo Church via live streaming on the Internet.

The Quiapo Church or Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene would be featuring a special live streaming of the Masses on its website to enable those living abroad to continue with the traditional Simbang Gabi.

The special live streaming could be accessed by logging on to www.quiapochurch.com every 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. from Dec. 16 to 25, while the anticipated Masses can be viewed every 9 p.m. from Dec. 15 to 23.

It was only recently when the Quiapo Church added the live streaming of its Masses in response to the request of OFWs.

Quiapo Church is known to have thousands of devotees. There had been many testimonies from people whose wishes and prayers have been answered such as cure from an illness, passing exams and finding work abroad after they earnestly prayed before the “miraculous” image of the Black Nazarene.  

“Live streaming came about due to request from OFWs who could not go to Mass due to their situation. At least it could help them nourish their faith,” Quiapo Church rector Monsignor Clemente Ignacio said.

He also cautioned the faithful that tardiness is not acceptable and watching the Mass online could not be used to substitute for being physically present during the Eucharistic celebration.

“Parishioners still have to attend Masses in their Churches. Live streaming was set up for those who, due to their illness, could not go to Mass, or those who, due to their location, do not have churches to go to,” Ignacio added.

He also encouraged the people to still watch the Masses online, even after they have already heard Mass, because it would nourish their faith and devotion.

Several thousands of Filipino Catholics woke up early yesterday morning to be present in the first of the nine-day Masses, marking the start of the Simbang Gabi.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle was the Mass celebrant at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.

In a television interview, Tagle called on Filipino Catholics to prepare their hearts and minds on the birth of Jesus Christ, especially this Christmas.

“I am hoping that with the start of the Simbang Gabi and the nearing Christmas, our minds and hearts are really focused on Jesus who is coming. We should accept the peace and light that he would be bringing, and most especially the life that he wants us to live,” Tagle said. —With Evelyn Macairan