Assignment of rifles to Carcar police okayed

CEBU, Philippines – The Carcar City Council has authorized Mayor Nicepuro Apura to negotiate through a memorandum of agreement with the Cebu Provincial Police Office for the assignment of 21 units of M16 rifles to the city police.

In an urgent City Resolution No. 25, which was sponsored by City Councilor Anthony John Apura, the M16 rifles will be used of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), which was just established for advanced policing last year.

"The Cebu Provincial Police Office offered the assignment of M16 rifles for use of the SWAT personnel should the City of Carcar be willing to shoulder the expenses for the conversion and refurbishment of the M16 rifles into Special Operations Rifles," the councilor, who is the son of the mayor, said.

Anthony John said the council agreed to favor the offer of the CPPO rather than buy special operations rifles, which would cost higher and require stringent documentation before the city could acquire.

The city, through a MOA with CPPO, has financed the training and supplies of police personnel assigned to Carcar City police station who underwent training for SWAT.

According to young Apura, the city is obligated to provide the standard supplies and equipment to the members of the SWAT.

Recently, the Provincial Police Office augmented the police forces in Argao, Santander and Moalboal with the deployment of newly trained Special Weapons and Tactics personnel, with its aim of neutralizing organized criminal groups.

At least 30 policemen from different police stations underwent extensive training with 20 other SWAT team members of the Carcar police to be part of the augmentation force.

Ten SWAT members were deployed to each of the local government units.