PNP to replace M16 with M14 rifles

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) will soon do away with all loose bore Elisco M16 rifles as part of its force protection upgrades, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said here yesterday.

Sarmiento said the replacement is under the PNP Patrol Plan 2030 where the PNP will be acquiring at least 30,000 units of M14 rifles.

He said the acquisition is part of the operational safety upgrade and is designed to complement the “One Time Big Time – Lambat Sibat” operations which target big crime groups.

The PNP, Sarmiento added, would also buy 16,000 additional side arms to ensure a one-is-to-one ratio for all policemen, who will also be provided with one handheld radio each.

Sarmiento said the success of the kind of security provided during the visit of Pope Francis to the country in January and the recent year-long Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings inspired the police protection program upgrade.

Aside from the PNP improvement, Sarmiento is also planning to put up fire stations, equipped with fire trucks and personnel, in every Philippine town.

Some towns, which are grouped as a circuit, share one fire truck and set of personnel.