Back in the 70’s there was a movie called “The gang who couldn’t shoot straight” which starred Robert de Niro, among others. Unfortunately, the Philippine National Police (PNP) may soon be called “The Police who couldn’t shoot straight.”
You see, recently, the 125,000 Philippine National Police officers were given a marksmanship test. They were also tested on gun care, cleaning and handling. Ninety percent of PNP Officers failed the test. According to National Police Commissioner Luis Mario General, of the 10% who passed the test, most of them ranked as “novices” in weapon care and in marksmanship.
Furthermore, General revealed that nearly 50% of the PNP officers do not even have a service firearm. In addition, General said that the high cost of training and of ammunition are to blame for the terrible results.
How can the PNP possibly be effective when only 10% of them can pass a marksmanship test, and most of those 10% can only barely pass? Safety is one thing that I always hear from foreigners about. Many people are hesitant to visit the Philippines because of safety concerns. And, I would venture that the vast majority of those with such concerns don’t even know about these abysmal test results.
Personally, I do not feel that the Philippines is a dangerous place. When compared with other countries around the world, I doubt that the Philippines ranks badly in terms of danger compared to others, and I personally have no fears about living here. I feel as safe here as I have in any other place that I’ve ever lived. However, even if the Philippines were the safest country in the world (which it is not, certainly), that would be no excuse for 90% of police officers being unable to accurately fire their weapon. Nor would be an excuse for nearly 50% of police officers not even having a weapon at all.
Frankly, the excuse of ammunition being expense is a sham. The Philippines should most certainly be able to afford ammunition for it’s Police force. And, training too. It makes me wonder, how about the Philippine Armed Forces? Is their marksmanship training adequate? I hope it is better than that of the police.
Kamusta ka Bob,
This is interesting, I just read an article from a blog the other day. I really forget which one I found this on. But it was an interview with a police officer from Cayagan De Oro, and he and others from there police department went to California to get training and ideas from various law enforcement agencies here in the states. I believe even from FBI agents as well..well anyways, the subject of firearms training was brought up, and the officer from CDO explained that the majority of the police officers on his force and from other parts of the Philippines have to purchase there own weapons and ammunition as well, of course this is very costly to them. So they do not get the firearms training and practice there counterparts do in other countries with police departments that have big budgets.
So again, it comes down to budget problems, and not allocating monies for this important part of the community. So of course me not living there, I couldn't possibly give you any ideas of what the answer to this problem. Taxing people who don't make very much of an income isn't the answer, telling the police force to make an effort to ticketed more offenders for traffic and other offenses isn't the problem, because most likely that would just causes problems with some police officers taking advantage of the system, and there power.
Salamat kaayo,
Danny
PS. About the armed forces, was watching a documentary about a Sniper Squad Competition on the MilitaryChannel, involving Sniper Teams from all over the world, including police SWAT Teams from the USA. These teams included some very elite special forces squads as well. You know who won the competition, it was the Pittsburgh Swat Team…so I guess you just don't know..and I guess some of the best training in the world can't always guarantee great results.
Not only can,t they shoot straight but have you seen what they drive! they can,t even pursue a bad guy let alone shoot him, and most are too fat to chase anyone on foot as well.Did you also know there,s only one CSI team in all of Manila! And the different SWAT teams have to not only arm themselves they have to buy their own body armour, which they get at the same stores as the airsoft guys! Frankly I feel safer without the police being around anyway. P.S did you know the New Zealand police don,t carry guns, and I still feel safer here.
Good Morning Manong Bob. My brother is a member of PNP. He did not tell me he had to buy his own bullets? I know he travels everywhere with his gun,so he must have bullets.
Is it possible though that the Police recruits deliberately don't want to shoot targets? Because if they hit their targets, like shoot-to-kill-situations, and the target dies, they actually get suspended without pay, and if found guilty, they can actually lose their jobs and go to prison. I don't have to say that if the PNP has a Police Union, then it is not a very effective one, while the Politicians tend to listen more to the Human Rights group. So I think, most Police would shoot not to kill, or maybe not even aim properly at the target. Heck, f you have a big family, and you're past 30years, why would you risk your job, career and family security for some criminal? A wounded live suspect is better than a dead one. This is the Philippines….
Hi Bob – this article brought to mind the hired security that I see all around the Philippines, such as malls, banks, restaurants, etc. All those security personnel are armed and I found that a little disconcerting my first visit there. Is there any training for them or is it pretty much – you got the job, here's your gun?
Hi Jo – Great, just making sure! Take care.
Hi Christine,
Theres a simple solution to police officers not wanting to use there weapons in the process of there duty. DON'T become police officers, period. I tell you, I wouldn't want a partner who I thought was afraid to fire his weapon and not back me up at those times it is needed.
Just my two peso's…
🙂 Danny 🙂
Sorry Bob,for posting again, but does the patch on the police officers uniforms say "Maasin Police Department"?? If so, that is funny you found that police dept.
Take care,
Danny
hi bob,
I am not looking down at the PNP, but they really are a big joke, remember the euro generals? if they could attend a meeting and have a budget for it, then why can't they train our guys? don't answer that question I know you already know the answer. LOL!
i really don't expect the police could shoot properly, for god sake they can't even arrest properly, remember the Ted Failon kin's arrest? and those arrest was done by the high ranking officials, mostly are with a rank of Police Inspector.
I smell business here… a security force business. ala Blackwater. hahaha
Hi Danny – Yeah, money seems to be at the root of so many problems. Not only here, but everywhere in the world.
Ticket offenders for traffic violations? Danny… I can tell you don't live here! 😆 It's not Kansas, after all, my friend!
Hi Daryl – Down here in Mindanao the PNP is starting to get some good vehicles. I see them in brand new pickup trucks (Mitsubishi, Toyota, etc). So, things are improving. I wonder how many bullets you can buy for the cost of a new vehicle? 😆
Hi Christine – I think that PNP officers aren't really afraid to use their weapon when it's necessary to do so. I don't see too much incident where there are repercussions against them for doing so.
Hi Randy – Ha ha… those security guards… well… I don't think there is any training at all, but that's just my guess.
Hi Danny – No, that picture is from Maasim, a small town in Southern Mindanao, in Sarangani Province.
Hi Dans – Unfortunately, much of what you say is true. I believe that there are plenty of good, professional PNP officers, but the bad ones spoil the name…
Hi Bob,
A lot of the security guards carry shot guns; not much marksmanship needed there. I wonder how many of them have ever fired their weapons? It would probably scare them as much as the person they were shooting at!
All things considered, and after reading your article on their weapons skills, I would feel safer if they DIDN'T have bullets!
Mark C.
I think it may be interesting to reflect on the fact that one of the most effective police forces in the world are unarmed. It is something of a chicken or egg situation certainly; in countries where the police are armed, then criminals need guns to protect themselves from police who might shoot them rather than tackling them properly and arresting them. And if you introduce guns into a society as a legal right, well people get hot-headed from time to time and tend to fire the darned things, which they wouldn't do if they didn't have them.
I guess though, that if you are going to arm your police force, that they should be trained extensively, and regularly re-tested. I wonder how the politicians would answer this one! On my first trip to the Phils., before I knew the situation or the place well, I was, courtesy of the local mayor, accompanied much of the time by an armed police officer. He always had his firearm close to hand, but now I come to think of it, it never occured to me to wonder if he actually knew how to aim the thing. 🙂
I think the security or body guards with the Godparents that were at my wedding .. were well trained .. well they looked to me , they all had guns ..and I had to feed them too .. 🙁 ..didn't expect that …Phil n Jess
Hi Mark – One time, about 8 years ago, I saw one of those guards shoot his gun at somebody. The guy stole a candy bar and was running, so the guard started shooting into a crowd of people. Luckily, he didn't have a shotgun, so he could target a little more accurately with his handgun. He still missed the guy, though, although he fired about 3 shots into a crowd!
Hi Jim – I heard that even in the UK they are starting to arm the police now, is that true?
Like you say, if they give the guys guns, they should at least train them!
Hi Phil – Yeah, those guards were indeed well trained… trained on how to get free food out of you! 😯
Thats what I was "trying" to say…that ticketing is a bit of a joke there. 🙂 Yes, I realize this is not something that happens very often from reading your articles here. 🙂
Salamat,
Danny 🙂
If it's true that they have to buy their own gun and bullets, then that's just ridiculous.
Hi Danny – Yeah, I understand. It's just kind of funny to hear that, knowing how things actually work here! 😀
Maayong Buntag Bob
I have seen some of the guns in the Philippines and from looking at them I think marksmanship training would be a waist of money.
if you think the police department is bad…talk to Mrs. Burman…she does not think to kindly of the RP military. The military rescue consisted of indiscriminatly firing at anything that moved friend or foe…her husband was killed by the military in the cross fire…very poorly trained. With such a high rate of nepotism in the police department its not suprising that they have a problem.
thats because our military is not trained in hostage rescue but rather in guerilla tactics…we only have one 2 units in the Philippines trained for hostage rescue, the Police Special Action Force, and the Army Light Reaction Battalion, both of which was unavailable at the time they found the american hostages.
Really, nemesio, what you say comes across as nothing but excuses. sorry to say it, but that is how it comes across to me.
Hi Bob – Stop and think why so many policemen in the USA have shotguns in the police cars. Those little items make up for a lot of marksmanship problems.
Some, if not most bodyguards of Phil. political figures, whom I've seen close up (including cousin mayors and representatives), have the "short stock & barrel on a leather strap version" beneath their raincoat.
I'd have the marksmanship test passers get shotguns, and have the failures practice cleaning them! 🙂
I think if it is a matter of them dying or the crims, I know they won't spare the bullets and bugger the human rights! Apparently there is a National politician (which I can't name publicly) who is condoning some vigilante killings, and he is under the spotlight of the Human rights group. I also know that if the PNP don't get their man with their bullets, they will get their man using someone else's bullet, and it doesn't mean a Policeman's bullet.
Hello Bob, that is very true. My brother is also a police officer in Davao. One time he asked me if I could bring him handcuffs for him to use. He had to make a loan to buy his own gun. It's ridiculous.
Hi Bob,
I was with a Canadian friend in one of the malls. We saw a uniformed security guard standing on a stair landing. He was equipped with a revolver. My friend asked him about it. He replied that it was a .38 calibre, and then said nervously "I hope I don't have to shoot it!" I doubt there was much, if any training.
Hi Bob! My husband read your post this morning and said the following:
1. He feels very safe in the Philippines compared to many of the countries he has worked and lived in.Even safer than the USA.
2. He finds the police (overall) are good in the service they provide. He recommends that communication is the key in winning over your local policemen. Speak to the cop that is standing on the street in the hot sun. Be cordial and be friendly. You never know when you will need them.
3. In the 15 yrs he has been in the Philippines, the pattern he has seen is the local police using communication and cultural skills to solve problems. In most countries that limit the use of weapons like the U.K. the police are received better and are more effective.
4. No matter where you go in the world you will find "dirty" cops and "dumb" cops – the Philippines is no different.
Jo here -my feelings are in support of a police force that are under-trained and under-supported in the way of equipment. Let them know that they are appreciated as a little "love" goes a long way.
Jo and (hubby)JB
Hi Larry – 😆 You might be right on that.
Hi brian – Where you been hiding lately? Haven't seen you for a few days. Yeah, that incident with the Burnhams was not handled well, no doubt there. I have visited a number of the areas where the Burnhams were held.
Hi Paul – There you go… I like your idea on what to do with the people who failed!
Hi Christine – So, human rights… you're saying that the criminals are human? 😯
Hi Ringgay – Wow… I do feel bad for the police officers who don't have the supplies they need.
Hi John – Probably none! 😯
Hi Jo and JB – If my article implied in any way that I don't feel safe here or anything like that, then I did a poor job in writing it, because I feel very safe here. I was just commenting on a news event here. No doubt that there are dirty cops worldwide. I support the PNP officers, and didn't mean to imply anything else.
Sorry if I came across any other way.
Hi Bob!
Actually, it is the direct opposite! We were supporting your article with the fact that my husband has lived all over the world and feels the safest here in the Philippines. We support you contention that many people have false fears about the police here.
We, also, agree that the police could do a much better job if they had the proper training and equipment. That is not their fault but the central government's budgeting.
No, Bob, we agree you were right on target with your article.
Jo and JB
Hi Bob. At the hotel that I stayed at in Manila I became friends with the security guard. One day he showed me his revolver. Their were no bullets in the chambers & no hammer on the gun,if you could call it that. How is it that the bad guys can shoot & always kill the journalists & polititions from the back of a moving motorcycle? When I hear about the military on training exercises with the U.S. forces it must be for the purpose of borrowing weapons & amunition. Law enforcement should not be short of equipment to do their job. No wonder the police have trouble taking their job seriously. I had better stop there.
Hi Guy – When those journalists and politicians are killed, it is not always the "bad guys" who do it… could be other politicians and such. You can be sure that those who handle the "important jobs" (so to speak) have plenty of the kind of equipment that is needed, and get training! 😉
Hi Bob. That is why I said I had better stop there. I wasn't sure if you would agree with me suggesting that or not. You took my words,no problem.
One thing I noticed about the pnp and security guards is how polite they were, at least to me. Where I live we have mostly young redneck cops just itching to pull there gun and use it. I did feel very safe there. When I would ask for directions, they were always polite. Never gave right directions but did try. I also notice from reading papers from the Phil's that in almost every encounter with the terrorist, by far more of the terrorist die then soldiers. Then again maybe everyone who dies even from stray bullets is counted as terrorist.
Hi Guy – 😉
Hi Andy – ha ha… Maybe that is how they count it, I never thought about it!
Bob I was invited to go to the shooting range at the Camp Alagar in Cdo . so someone has bullets to shoot .. they have a shooting range …Phil n Jess
Yea Bob But it doesn't matter you still have to feed them cause they are there for a reason, and that reason was too keep someone safe ..so yes I'll feed them , wouldn't you .. Phil n Jess
Hi Phil – Yep, somebody has bullets, no doubt. I was just reporting what the head of the PNP said.
Hi Phil – I was just joking… That's why I put the funny face. 🙂
I did read somewhere or someone told me while I was there that bullets are very expensive unless you unreliable reloads. I know I can't own a gun there and do not want one in the house even if Josey can. I know if I used it in self defence, I would spend a lot of prison time and then be deported. Josey's Uncle did mention I should bring him some of my guns. Yea right like they would let me check those in. But actually as a gift I thought I might buy him one. My 15 or so guns I already gave to my kids. Over 40 years of sleeping with a gun under my mattress and never once had reason. I haven't even fired any of them in 15 years.
Danny:
I hate to shatter your illusions but SWAT unitsreceive the same type of training special forces do. Seeing a SWAT unit win a competition is hardly suprising.
Certain types of police officers in the UK are armed: royal and political protection officers for example, but the normal police departments are unarmed. Firearms can be issued to specially trained marksmen in exceptional circumstnces, such as a hostage situation, but I understand that this move requires the prior approval of a very senior police officer. Recently, however, some but not all UK police forces have started to issue "tasers" (electronic stun guns) to some officers. Public ownership of those is illegal in the UK, but I always had one by my bed when I lived in South Africa.
Hi Andy – I totally agree about guns. I am a supporter of gun rights. However, a foreigner here is best advised to avoid guns, because there are too many things that could go wrong and will always be blamed on the foreigner.
Hi Jim – 😆 Yeah, sometimes having something like a taser would be real nice! Do they work OK on the kids? 😯
just picking on yea to Bob ,,:) ..Phil n jess
Maybe they will have my buy my own bullets when i go there to shoot ….."Rich American syndrome"..all's fun in paradise…Phil n Jess
Hi Phil – 😉
Hi Phil – They will probably let you pay for yours and theirs too!
I'll soon find out Bob 🙂 ..Phil n Jess
Bob,
Did you know at most US military bases in the US, the guards at the main gate do not have bullets. If something happens, they need to call their supervisor to bring them ammunition. I guess that is because the guards are usually new recruits on guard duty.
Hi Bruce – No, I didn't know that.
Hey Hey there Bruce ..I did some gate duty when I was young in 73..I didn't have a gun. 🙂 probably thought i would shoot someone …been there 2 years too..On our post everybody got a chance to serve on gate duty ..Phil n Jess
Bob,
A friend of mine who is a town police chief told me one time that they once chased a group of heavily armed bank robbers with no bullets in their guns!!! So there you go…straight from the horse's mouth!
Hi gigi – What a shame! That is quite dangerous for the police, no doubt.
this is a very interesting article, especially with the Quirino grandstand hostage fiasco, or should i say carnage, that just took place… now they are seeing the results of their haphazard training. i don’t for one second believe that the PNP doesn’t have the budget for either arms, equipments or training. the sad reality is most of the budget go to the generals and other officials who have huge mansions in Corinthians, Alabang and other posh villages. such a sad state of government 🙁
It was certainly a sad state of affairs in the Quirino Grandstand, jeff! Without a doubt!