PNoy to distribute new firearms to gunless cops

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III will lead today's turnover rites of the 1st of two tranches of firearms to gunless personnel of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

President Aquino will grace the distribution of the first batch of new 22,603 Glock 17 Generation 4 Cal.9mm. pistols at the PNP Multi-purpose Hall in Camp Crame around 10 a.m.

Along with the President, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima will also lead and witness the turnover and distribution of the new firearms.

The government purchased a total of 74, 879 new handguns to provide all policemen in the country with service firearms.

Roxas had said that the acquisition of the firearms is one of the concrete steps being taken by the government to enhance the police's crime-fighting capability.

He had also announced that the government will also acquire 2,500 police vehicles and 40,000 radios so that the PNP's regional, provincial, city and municipal offices will be more mobile and coordinated in running after criminals.