by Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY, January 4 (PIA) -– Christmas and New Year celebration in Zamboanga del Sur was generally peaceful.
Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO) provincial director Sr. Supt. Jose Bayani L. Gucela said that there were no reports on indiscriminate firing of guns by the PNP members and civilians and stray bullet incidents during the merry-making especially on Christmas eve and New Year’s eve.
“We did not receive any single report from the units on indiscriminate firing of policeman on his issued firearm during the Christmas eve and New Year’s eve,” Gucela said adding that it only shows that no policeman has violated the directive issued by PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome.
Gucela said on Monday’s inspection and ceremonial untaping of firearms’ during the flag raising ceremony, he did not find any broken tape. “The tapes on the nozzles of the firearms remained intact, a clear indication that the police personnel here strictly heeded to the order of refraining from making any indiscriminate firing of guns,” Gucela reported.
It can be recalled that on December 27, the ceremonial taping of firearms was conducted at its headquarters in Camp Abelon, Lumbia district where he led the ceremony with the key officials. “The taping activity has reminded our police personnel not to fire their guns indiscriminately during the Christmas holidays,” Gucela explained.
ZamboSur, Gucela said posted an all-time low record on fire-cracker related injuries with 5 (five) cases recorded adding that the figure is significantly lower than in 2011 and is still considered one of the most peaceful celebrations of the New Year.
Gucela said that the low record of fire-cracker related incidents was the result of the effective implementation of the DOH and PNP’s fire-work-injury reduction campaign dubbed ‘Aksyon Paputok, Injury Reduction (APIR). “With the effective implementation of APIR campaign , the command was able to effectively deliver the message to the people on the harmful effects of firecrackers,” Gucela added.
“We thanked our people for heeding the government’s call for banning the use of firecrackers during New Year celebration. They are now educated and responsible citizens,” Gucela said.
The same assessment was also done in the city PNP headquarters .
Supt. Primitivo Lorenzo Jr, the city PNP director said he was happy that on the ceremonial untaping of firearms , the tapes were remained unbroken.
Lorenzo attributed the ‘zero’ indiscriminate firing to police professionalism and discipline.
The ‘zero’ indiscriminate firing of guns, Lorenzo said was due to the professionalism and discipline of police personnel and that they have followed the orders and directives of higher authorities of the country’s police force.
Gucela congratulates the entire police force of the province for adhering to the directive of the PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome and for the successful campaign against indiscriminate firing.