AFP sees no need to seal firearms

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sees no need to seal with masking tape the muzzles of firearms of its 125,000-strong force following the orders to all field commanders to strictly enforce the military’s policy barring soldiers from indiscriminately firing their weapons to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

Col. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesman, said just like the Philippine National Police (PNP), all validated violations of this policy will be dealt with accordingly, with offenders getting dismissed from the service.

Padilla said the soldiers’ firearms and their issued load would be subjected to inspection by their commanders before and after Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

“Their commanders are going to do the inspections. So if a soldier violated this policy, his immediate superior or unit leader will also be made answerable under our doctrine of chain of command,” Padilla said.