By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) reminded all its personnel to be cautious when handling or maintaining their service firearms.

NOCPPO spokesperson, Captain Judesses Catalogo said as part of their basic training for new police officers, they are taught how to use and maintain, and to be proficient with firearms.

The reminders come after a series of accidental gun discharges over the past few months, and the incident involving a 12-year-old boy who was killed after he accidentally shot himself using the service firearm of his police father while in school.

However, Catalogo pointed out that there are times that unforeseen incidents may occur which result in the accidental discharging of firearms even though the involved cop did not pull the trigger.

Catalogo said when cleaning and conducting routine firearm maintenance, the police are reminded to always make sure that the gun’s chamber is empty at all times.

As for police officers who have young children at home, Catalogo reminded them to always hide their guns in a proper place, preferably a safety box.

This must be placed in an area where it cannot be easily seen or reached by children.

The gun’s magazine should also be removed, as well as the chamber empty when not in use.

He also reminded police personnel to teach their children about the dangers of using firearms.

Catalogo further warned that police personnel may still face disciplinary action even if the firearm discharge was unintended.

When asked if the service firearms they are using have a built-in safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharges, Catalogo said they are using firearms that don’t have a trigger-safety mechanism, but they are built in a way that it won’t fire even if it was bumped or if it accidentally falls off from the cop’s holster.

“Ang iya safety lang gid is presence of mind,” Catalogo said./DGB, WDJ