Game of the generals: PNP outshoots AFP

In this game of the generals, cops bested the soldiers.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hemogenes Esperon Jr. placed eighth in a shooting competition at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Benjamin Belarmino of the Philippine National Police (PNP) team emerged as the best shooter when the 13th Games of the Generals Funshoot started yesterday.

Belarmino was declared as International Shooter of the Year in a worldwide competition for police officers in Thailand recently.

In yesterday’s competition, the PNP team was comprised of Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa and Superintendents Pedro Tango, Raul Castañeda, German Doria, and Mario San Diego.

Belarmino was declared overall champion in the Team Aggregate category.

Placing second was the AFP General Headquarters Team headed by Esperon, with the Philippine Navy shooting team placing third.

The Army team did not make it to the ranking list.

Overall, the Army Team performed below par of their previous records of being consistent titleholder in most of the military’s shooting competitions.

The individual winners were Belarmino, champion; Brig. Gen. Jonathan Martir, 1st runner-up; Brig. Gen. Roland Detabali, 2rd runner-up; Commodore Rico Borromeo, 3rd runner-up; Maj. Gen.

Alfredo Cayton, 4th runner-up; Tango, 5th runner-up; Verzosa, 6th runner-up; Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza, 7th runner-up; Esperon, 8th runner-up; Doria, 9th runner-up; Castañeda, 10th runner-up; San Diego, 11th runner-up.

Rounding out the list of placers were Commodore Vicente Agdamag, 13th; Maj. Gen. Arsenio Arugay, 14th; Maj. Gen. Reullicio Samaco, 15th, and Commodore Reullicio Samao at 16th spot.

An annual event, this year’s CSAFP’s Challenge is composed of five stages: “Sleepless night,” “Resident Evil,” “Car Trouble,” “The Ambush,” and “Shadow Basic.”

The shooting competition was off to a good start, but heavy rains turned the Department of National Defense firing range muddy, making it difficult for a shooting contestant to roll, crawl, run, shoot and hit the targets.

AFP spokesman, Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said the yearly funshoot in honor of the AFP chief is being held to further strengthen rapport and camaraderie between participants.