Zamboanga police, guards seal guns

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Police forces, including security guards of all agencies in Zamboanga City have sealed on Monday guns' muzzles to ensure there will be no illegal firing of guns during the New Year, an official said.

Chief Superintendent Juanito Vaño, Police Regional Office 9 (PRO) director who led the taping of the muzzles, warned policemen of heavy administrative punishment and possible dismissal from service for violating the order. 

“I will not hesitate to dismiss and fire out from the service any personnel who will be found to have violated this order,” Vaño said.

Vaño, who was then the deputy chief for operation of the National Capital Region, said it has been observed that every year during the Yuletide and New Year’s celebration a number of stray bullet victims are recorded. 

The police official said Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima issued a stern warning and ordered the whole police units across the country to strictly abide by the order and monitor if not arrest even private gun holders who are found to be illegally discharging their weapons. 

Vaño said on his level in the region, all unit commanders and security guards have been directed to ensure the muzzle-taping of their service firearms.

Meanwhile, Vaño said muzzle taping for the hand guns, specially the .45 caliber and other semi-automatic pistols, will be taped lightly to avoid it from jamming when being used while responding incidents. 

He said there were incidents where it almost caused the safety of the police officer who responded a shooting incident when his muzzle-taped handgun jammed due to the adhesive tape.