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15,000 cops have no guns

The Philippine National Police is planning to purchase 1,000 to 2,000 firearms this year in order to address gun shortage among its ranks.

Police Director General Arturo Lomibao, who was in Brgy. Alaguisoc in Guimaras Wednesday said that 15,000 police have no government-issued firearms.

“So can you imagine a policeman hunting a criminal without a firearm,” said Lomibao, who attended the opening of the First Gentleman's Cup Area Championship shootfest together with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Lomibao is currently going around the country's police stations to check on their situation.

The PNP, he said, has already allocated part of its budget for the purchase of additional equipment.

Although the initial number of firearms that the PNP plans to purchase is not enough, “I hope that those who will be succeeding me will do the same,” he said.

Other than guns, the PNP also lacks about 500 vehicles and ‘investigative equipment,' Lomibao said.

So the PNP will be buying more guns, more vehicles, and more investigative equipment, he remarked.

These three, he pointed out, are ‘mission essentials' and are “basically needed in operations.”