Firing tourney aims to enhance marksmanship among cops

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has officially opened yesterday its shooting competition dubbed as City Director’s Cup in Wonderland Firing Range to hone the “firing proficiency” of each member.

CCPO director, Police Colonel Josefino Ligan, who personally spearheaded the opening ceremony of the shootfest, said that aside from honing the firing skills, this is also to show off the competitiveness of each police personnel.

“Ang atong mga kapulisan continuous ang proficiency firing niya nga dapat kung almost every other week may shootfest or sa ilang kaugalingon, mag practice sila,” he said.

“Kini atong gibuhat ba official aron pud naay competitiveness so aside nga ma hone ilang skills in shooting naa silay competition on themselves and to the other teams,” he added.

Aside from this, Ligan also said this is also for their camaraderie to flourish among the other police personnel since they will be formed in a team during the competition.

Ligan also said that the event is aimed to expose the personnel to the cardinal rule of the gun-safety and gun-handling.

“Permanenting mabutang sa ilang hunahuna, ma muscle memory na ang safety kay it will spell life and death kung dili ka maayo mudala sa imong armas,” said Ligan.

According to Ligan, this is also in line with the directive of the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief in the effort to strengthen their firing proficiency.

He said these practices will be put into action the moment the police are exposed to a situation that needs their immediate response.

In a hostage-taking situation, for instance, firing skills will come in handy, especially among the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel.

“When there situations like hostage-taking, ang hostage taker ang maigo dili ang hostage..so in short ing-ana ka proficient, ka sharp shooter atong mga kapulisan,” said Ligan.

The shootfest is participated by members of the CCPO, provincial police office, the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) and some civilians. — GMR (FREEMAN)