PRO-9 chief warns policemen not to use guns On Christmas, New Year celebrations

By R.G. Antonet A. Go

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 22 (PNA) -– Chief Supt. Edgar Basbas, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, on Monday warned his personnel not to use their service firearms in celebrating Christmas and the New Year.

Basbas issued the warning as he led the sealing of the muzzle of the guns of policemen based in Camp Romeo Abendan that houses the PRO-9 headquarters in Barangay Mercedes, this city.

Basbas said any policemen who will be caught using their firearms in celebrating Christmas and the New Year “will be dealt with accordingly.”

“I don’t want that any member of Police Regional Office-9 will be involved in the illegal discharged of firearms,” Basbas stressed.

“I am reminding you that it is prohibited to use your service firearms in celebrating the Christmas and New Year. It is likewise prohibited for the civilians to use their guns during the celebration,” Basbas added.

Basbas issued the warning as he directed the police to help the other agencies of government in the prevention of the use of firearms here in the region.

However, he told his personnel that they can use their service firearms in responding to emergency cases.

There are 6,090 policemen under PRO-9, which covers the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte and the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Isabela, Pagadian and Zamboanga.

The service firearms of the policemen will be inspected on January 3, 2015 to determine whether they have used them or not.

Basbas said appropriate sanction will be slapped against policemen who have used their firearms without valid reasons. (PNA)
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