PNP Chief Warns Vs. Indiscriminate Firing, Targets Zero Casualty on New Year Revelry

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, on Tuesday warned against indiscriminate firing as the PNP targets to achieve “zero casualty” in welcoming the New Year.

”We want zero death, zero casualty caused by illegal discharge of firearms and indiscriminate firing during the New Year celebration,” Dela Rosa said.

In a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Dela Rosa said that he has instructed all policemen nationwide to conduct patrols in the streets and strictly implement their campaign against indiscriminate firing from 5 p.m. of Dec. 31, 2016 to 5 a.m. of Jan. 1, 2017.

”I’m requiring them to submit detailed deployment plan to the Directorate for Operations, attention PSD, NOC not later than Dec. 31, 2016, and after activity report not later than Jan. 3, 2017 indicating therein the PNP personnel from other offices,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa also urged the local executives, especially the barangay officials to join the PNP in patrolling the communities.

He said that they are already considering some places as “hotspots” where “indiscriminate firing” was recorded.

Likewise, Dela Rosa advised the policemen to immediately knock on the door of anyone involved in indiscriminate firing and if refused entry, devise means to get inside the house.

The PNP chief also warned the chiefs of police to perform their duty and make sure that no incidents of indiscriminate firing will happen in their areas of responsibility in welcoming the New Year.

“Death caused by illegal discharge of firearms or indiscriminate firing wherein suspects are not arrested within 24 hours shall be a ground for the immediate relief of the chief of police,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said that if the chiefs of police would not do their job, they will be relieved from their post.

”Whenever two chiefs of police are relieved for the same incident, their respective provincial director will likewise be relieved,” he said.

He assured that he will have “no mercy” on policemen who would fire their guns indiscriminately in welcoming the New Year.

”When two provincial directors are relieved, the regional director of the PRO will be relieved,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said that he will make sure that grave misconduct charges will be filed against those who would violate his directive aside from dismissal from the service. (PNA) LAM/PTR/EDS