PRO-7: Machine guns not for anti-drugs ops

CEBU, Philippines — The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 clarified that the sub machine guns its headquarters in Camp Crame had given them will not be used during the anti-illegal drug operations of the police, but it is only for the Internal Security Operations of the whole region.

“Ang gi-issuehan ani ang atoang mga mobile force company because gitahasan ni sila sa internal security operations. Mag-patrolya ni sila sa atong kabukiran.  This is to really ensure nga atoang mga syudad, munisipyo walay masaag nga mga daotang mga elemento. While we are sleeping sound at night, atong mga mobile forces are patrolling our areas just in case,” Police Supt. Reyman Tolentin, PRO-7 Public Information Officer, said during a press briefing yesterday.

Aside from the sub machine guns, Camp Crame also turned over patrol vehicles, motorcycles, bullet proof vest and combat helmets to the PRO-7 yesterday morning.

Tolentin said that this was part of the Capability Enhancement Program of the police.

There were two types of sub machine guns given: 15 pieces of caliber 5.56 and 10 pieces of caliber 7.62, which are all made in Israel.

All the Mobile Force Companies of the region’s different police offices received the firearms arms and paired with brand new ballistic vest level III-A and Kevlar helmets.

“Naa tay 9,500 police sa tibuok region, so ang atong kevlar gamay pa gyud. Wa pa gani 3/4. Kung naay issue ani sa police dako kaayo ni og matabang sa pag-ensure sa ilang safety,” Tolentin added.

The 15 Toyota Hilux patrol cars were distributed to the Police Offices under the PRO7.

The Cebu City Police Office and Lapu-Lapu City Police Office received two police cars; three for Cebu Provincial Police Office and Mandaue City Police Office; four for the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office; and one for the Siquijor Provincial Police Office.

The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) also had 15 new Kawasaki Versys 650 CC motorcycles. (FREEMAN)